How to Teach Basic Math Facts and Research
Students need much repetition when it comes to learning basic math facts. The old adage "practice makes perfect" applies well in this instance. While using the latest techniques in teaching mathematics may have some advantages, there is no substitute for establishing a firm foundation of memorization and practice in the four fundamental areas of math: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Margaret Groves, M.Phil., M.Ed. cites in "The Benefits of Memorizing Math Facts" that research indicates that children who have not become proficient in whole number arithmetic by nine years old (fourth grade) are at risk of needing math intervention in future years. Whereas, firmly establishing memorization of math basics in the early years gives the student a solid foundation on which to build.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
1
Test to determine level of math knowledge. Pretest your students to establish the foundational math skills that they do and do not have. To substantially determine how well they understand, ask similar questions in a variety of ways.
-
2
Reteach basic concepts that are obviously lacking. Examine the pretest results. Re-teach math concepts that are missing or weak. An overall review of the basics will be beneficial for everyone. Then, concentrate on the rough areas where understanding is lacking throughout the group. Should you discover that only part of the class is behind, split the students into groups to work on projects or worksheets at their own levels. Work directly with the ones who need to relearn a process.
-
-
3
Let students eat the candy when the lesson is done. Teaching addition and subtraction to young students should start with visuals. Any colored objects, such as colored candies, will do. Give each child the same number of red and green candies on their desks. Have them count out 2 red and 3 green. Put them together and have them count the total of candies: 5. Use this exercise in a number of ways to illustrate the concept of addition. Have them reverse the process to illustrate subtraction.
Graduate to showing your students how they can write this on paper while you write the problems on the board. Use workbooks with addition and subtraction problems for practice. Also, find elementary math games to mix in with the more humdrum mechanics of learning math. Students need to know that math can be fun.
-
4
Remove the eggs. Use candies instead. Introduce your students to multiplication by showing them that multiplying is just a faster way to add. Use objects in an empty egg carton to illustrate multiplication. Fill some of the sections of the container with the same number of pieces of candy. If the problem that you want them to solve is 2 X 3 = 6, fill three compartments of the carton with two objects each. Then have students add each compartment to get the total. Explain that they just added 2 three times.
As your students progress in their knowledge, multiplication tables must be memorized. It is essential that your students know them well. As they gain proficiency, use flash card games to practice giving the answers with speed.
-
5
Food is a great visual aid. Teaching division is easily demonstrated with food. Dishing up dinner or serving pie for dessert is an exercise in division that every child has witnessed many times over.
Start your division unit by having a class party. Serve pizza and cans of soft drinks. Have the students help you out with the math. "If we have 12 slices of pizza and 6 people eating, how many slices can each person have?" As they give you the answer, show them on the board 12 divided by 6 equals 2. Do the same thing with the cans of soda.
As you advance to teaching more traditional written and word problems for division, remind them, if they're struggling, of what they learned on party day.
-
6
Children should practice math at home every night. Repeat the concepts regularly through homework assignments, seat work during class and mathematics games. Encourage parents to have their children do some practice problems and reciting of multiplication tables at home every night.
-
7
Test often. Give tests and quizzes often to keep a pulse on achievement. If at any time you detect that a fundamental process is not understood, or is fading away, briefly teach it again and give practice exercises.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit math image by jaddingt from Fotolia.com schulkind image by Tino Hemmann from Fotolia.com chldren teaching image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com colorful candies image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com a dozen eggs image by davidcrehner from Fotolia.com pizza image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com homework image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com test image by multimartinator from Fotolia.com
