Math Tips

How to Practice Math Facts with Games and Ideas

1. Practice counting by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's.

2. Use flashcards for 5-10 minutes on a daily routine. Divide flashcards into 3 piles: facts that are memorized, facts that we still use our fingers, facts that seem to stump us.

3. Write those facts that seem to stump on on a yellow sticky post-it-note and "post- it" on the door, refrigerator, mirror, closet, cupboard, counter, etc..

4. Timed Tests - Create 30 +/- facts and time your child or see how many problems they can do in one minute, two minutes, and three minutes. Try to beat your record.

5. Around the World- Your child should be very familiar with this game. You can play it with the whole family or neighborhood kids.

6. War Addition- Using a deck of cards, deal two cards to each player face down. Add up the cards and whoever has the highest total, collects the other players' cards.

7. Brainstorm a Number - Pick a number and write it in the middle of a piece of paper. Circle the number and think of as many ways to make that number. This activity is good for fact families.

8. Dice - Play any board game where you have to roll dice before moving. This will emphasize facts to 12.

9. Concentration - Have your child write facts on index cards and answers on index cards. Turn over all of the cards and play concentration by matching facts with answers.

10. Support your child in creating and writing addition and subtraction facts.

11. Involve your child in mathematical situations when they occur in the family setting (i.e.

time, money, measurement, problem solving, and cooking).

12. Provide your child with a calendar to use.

13. Have rulers, tape measures, and measuring cups available for your child to use.

14. Provide access to traditional and digital clocks and watches.

15. Discuss time throughout daily activities.

16. Allow your child the opportunity to handle, sort and count out money.

17. Provide your child with a variety of blocks for building.

18. Make craft projects together.

19. Observe and discuss size, shapes and patterns in the environment.

20. Use and display a 100's chart.

21. Create an estimation jar for your home.

22. Create a chart to graph your child's home responsibilities.

23. Encourage the use of mathematical words, such as "zero", "sum", "difference", "equals",

"less than", "greater than".

24. Practice reciting and writing addition and subtraction sentences through 20 (word problems).

25. Practice creating addition and subtraction sentences with a variety of materials such as old

keys, beans, buttons, coins, and bread ties.