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Extra basic math practice
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My son (6 yrs old) is almost done with Math-U-See Alpha. He know how to use the blocks to add and subtract, but he doesn’t have the facts memorized completely. Does he need more practice before starting MUS Beta? If so, is there something y’all can recommend? I think we’d need something more than just printing out a random math worksheet every day. I looked at the Kumon workbooks, but they seem a little…I don’t know. Lacking, I reckon. What would you do next if you were me?
Basic flashcards would be my first choice. Also, if he’s really tactile, get the numbers/symbols magnets so he can use them on a magnet board while you call out problems and/or chalk and a blackboard.
A combination will serve both tactile and visual for enhanced memorization. Chalk really helps with the pincer grip for future writing.
Lastly, for the auditory side, Classical Math to Classical Music Addition and Subtraction kills two birds with one stone.
HTH
My kids use http://www.xtramath.com. It is nothing more than basic math facts (similar to flash cards), but each of my kids work on it 2-3x/week with no pressure until they have mastered their facts. My 7YO has made amazing progress this year.
The MUS website also has an online drill resource. We’ve used it many times, especially when they are learning addition and multiplication facts. It’s found in the parent resources section.
There are also some fun card games. One is played like War, but you lay out 2 cards (you’d want to remove the face cards) and add the two number cards together to see who has the highest sum (instead of just seeing who has the highest card).
I use several things to help with basic math facts.
We use flash cards and play war. Flip your card, answer, whoever has the highest answer gets the set. If you answer incorrectly, even if you have answer, you do not win. All other normal war rules apply.
There is also a game called Hit the Trail. The full version uses addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; however, we simplify and just use addition and subtraction. It is a dice rolling game. http://www.amazon.com/Hit-The-Trail-Card-Game/dp/B0050DBZ1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449416943&sr=8-1&keywords=hit+the+trail
We also allow 10 or 15 minutes each day on Multiplication.com. They have a section of mini video games that in order to play you need to use your basic math facts. You can choose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
We use Math U See Online Drill daily (each kid has to do 1 or 2 sets of 20 before they get their time on Multiplication.com)
We also play cribbage (this helps with mental math also).
Math U See recommends you wait until the student has mastered all the facts before moving on to Beta. For my first child I waited and played different games daily and used the online drill until he knew both addition and subtraction facts well. Beta went very well after that. My second finished Alpha at age 5, didn’t quite have facts down (he tagged along with his older brother), and I just didn’t think he was ready for multiple digit addition and subtraction; so, we used Singapore 1A for a while and then played with the addition facts till he knew them. Then I started Beta and as he was doing the first portion of Beta we played and practiced the Subtraction facts. We won’t start the multiple digit subtraction till he knows them well. If the facts are known well while doing Beta, multiple digit problems easier to tackle. I tried a few multiple digit problems with my 6 year old before he had his facts down and he struggled with the regrouping and with remembering how to calculate the fact. He was not enjoying it. After he had his facts down, he only really had to focus on how to regroup and it went so much better!
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