Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: math

This topic has 11 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 3 months ago by amyjane.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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February 28, 2011 at 7:33 pm
amyjane
Participant
We are using Math U See. He says not to move on until they master the facts. We are working through Alpha and I just want to be sure what is considered mastery. We do math drills – for example today we did addition of 2’s. He completed 50 problems in 5:53 minutes but he got them all correct. We did it verbal after and he got them all right in 3:33. But on some I still see him looking up (counting in his head). He is not counting on his fingers. So when do you consider them to have mastered the fact?
Thanks,
Amy
February 28, 2011 at 8:00 pm
thepinkballerina
Participant
If I’m not mistaken, I believe Mr Steve wants them to answer quickly, not have to think about it, to have mastered the math facts. My dd is 8 and we are still mastering addition. She gets most of them all correct but still has to think about 8’s and 9’s. I figure subtraction will go along more smoothly and with less frustration if she knows her addition facts like the back of her hand!
So we are playing games day after day to help with retention, but we still do a math worksheet I print off daily so she is still writing them out.
Tara
February 28, 2011 at 8:50 pm
amyjane
Participant
thanks Tara – so what games do you play. I got a math bingo…any other suggestions.
February 28, 2011 at 9:52 pm
momto2blessings
Participant
What seemed to help my 8yo master his addition facts was writing math facts as copywork (think I got the idea here!)   He’s using MUS, too–instead of 2 pg./day I had him slow down and do 1 pg./day plus 1 pg. of math facts. I’ve also heard of playing Addition War—each of you turn over 2 cards and add them up—highest gets all 4 cards. Blessings:) Gina
P.S. If you try the copywork, be sure and specify that they are supposed to write the problem with answer before going on to next one—not copy a whole page of problems and then go back and write the answers—don’t ask how I know:)
February 28, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
I would like to first point out that I have a 6 year old and we have not gotten to mastering math facts yet. But I did spend a month researching math. I chose MUS, but I also bought some Rightstart games and AL abacus to supplement. The author of RS says that games are as essential to math as books are to reading. She stresses games over flashcards. I purchased the RS “Math Games” set. I know there is a video by RS on youtube showing how to play some of their games, like “Go to the Dump”. I don’t know if you could do a search on youtube or on http://www.alabacus.com We also have Sum Swamp game by Learning Resources.   But, we have not played it yet. I have read good reviews on Amazon for Double Shutter, a shut the box type game. I think any games of adding two numbers together will help (dice, cards), but you do want it to be fun. Maybe someone with more experience in these games can chime in. Great idea about the copywork, Gina. I’ll keep that in mind too.
March 1, 2011 at 1:50 am
kainklan
Member
I am doing something very different than what I have done before in math. I have used several of the above mentioned , highly praised, recommended etc etc programs, only to come up short with some of my children…. After much research, I have concluded that maybe it is the age when we introduce math. It doesn’t mean a child isn’t getting it , but are they retaining it and understanding it.. If they were , we wouldn’t need to spend so much time reviewing or “playing games” for them to get it… I really believe that we need to spend a few years allowing them to see real math in real life. I believe Ruth Beechick touches on this in her Three R’s book. But even older than that there was a grand experment done in 1932 in the Northeast, spurred on by a superintendent of a school district that became frustrated with the increase of “required” subjects, but less time , as the story goes, a courageous educator felt that the need was to take away math until the children were about 4th gr. or so.. It was carried through and thoroughly documented and the outcome, was these children in the experiment tested higher and retention was held than children “taught math” at an earlier age. This can be found online if you are interested in reading it…. My son age 7 but doing K (due to learning issues) puts the silverware away (from the dishwasher) he sorts, and all that, he stacks things and tells me some are larger than the other, he knows we have 2 cats, 1 dog, and he has 4 sisters and 2 brothers. I put a pile of 2 polished rocks down and just said how many are there? he says 2. I put a different one off to the side, and I ask how many, he says 1, and I slide them together and ask how many he says 3. .. He has no desire or ability to write with a pencil. therefore we do nothing with writing numerals. He does recognise numbers, and we toss a bean bag back and forth and he counts to 20 , we play dominoes, and that is about it for our math.. I am pleased with the results and will continue on this way for a couple more years, (Lord willing) and then I plan on using the Upton Strayer arithmetic books for their systematic approach….. Just wanted to add my .02. and I don’t want to discourage anyone as we each need to do what we do in faith.. I think us homeschoolers are quite special for doing what we do, but somehow/why when it comes to math we seem to become overwhelmed and overlook the obvious… Blessings KK
March 1, 2011 at 4:30 pm
amyjane
Participant
Thanks for all these helpful ideas.
March 1, 2011 at 5:15 pm
amyjane
Participant
So one more question. Do you guys keep moving with addition facts and work on mastery on the side or do you stay on one set – like adding 2’s until they are mastered.
March 1, 2011 at 5:23 pm
suzukimom
Participant
Just wanted to add in an option.
I’m using a different math (MEP) which for quite a while at least doesn’t require mastery. We use Cuisinaire blocks with it, and my kids use that (or sometimes for a change a number line) to figure out their math problems.   It has helped with some concepts (like 1+2 is the same as 2+1, and that 3-1 is the opposite thing, etc…) – and they have memorized a lot of the facts without even trying to.
Now it is up to you whether or not you are comfortable with that, or if it would work ok with your math program.
March 1, 2011 at 5:25 pm
missceegee
Participant
@ Kainklan – I have read the studies and material you mentioned and find much truth within. We need not push. I saw an interesteing movie this weekend, Race to Nowwhere, that touched on some similar issues within our school system.
@ Amyjane, if they are are ready and just having difficulty, I recommend Rapid Recall from Little Giant Steps. it has made all the difference for my dd10. She’s finished addition now and moving onto multiplication and subtraction. 10 minutes a day and finally she has it – every addition fact down cold! We tried everything – flashcards, flashmaster, wrap-ups, games, etc. and nothing took. I mention it simply as another option.
Christie
March 1, 2011 at 5:28 pm
thepinkballerina
Participant
We are going through Games for Math Playful Ways to Help
Your Child Learn Math from Kindergarten through Third Grade and we are enjoying
math checkers and a homemade math board game. I’ve also gotten
Ideas by google search on math games like a caterpillar
dice game.
I always wonder are we behind in math, but that
is a great reminder that at this age they may
not really unferstand math. It is abstract but sorting
silverware is concrete!
March 4, 2011 at 3:30 pm
amyjane
Participant
Thanks for the ideas. He is not having a hard time he just hasn’t memorized all the facts yet. He still has to stop and think a bit. I watched the Right Start video about playing games and I may get their game set. I have been looking on line as well for some math games. We love playing games and right now we have a game day morning once a week so new games would be fun to add in the mix.