Learning the math facts is important, but it is often seen as drudgery to children. The best way for kids to learn the math facts and improve their speed and fluency is through repetition. You could use flashcards to quiz and drill your student, but why not use a fun game that only requires dice and five minutes a day?
How to practice math facts in 5-minutes a day
Depending on the developmental level of your child, use six, ten, twelve, or thirty-sided dice. (You can also use a combination of the above-mentioned dice. See examples in the video below.) All of the calculations will be mental so start with lower sided dice and work up to larger numbers. You want your student to be successful and improve his fluency instead of getting frustrated.
- Set a timer for three-to-five minutes.
- Roll two dice. If you only have one die, roll it two times.
- Have your student add, subtract, or multiply the two numbers that were rolled on the dice.
- Encourage your student to answer in a complete sentence as quickly as possible. (An example of a complete sentence would be “Two plus two equals four.”)
- When the timer goes off, the math drill is complete for the day.
- Record the number of correct answers on the record sheet and watch your child’s speed and accuracy improve over time.
- On subsequent math drill sessions, encourage him to beat his previous scores.
Find more math manipulative and game suggestions in the math manipulative post series.
This post has been linked to Useful Tasks You Can Do in 5 to 60 Minutes and The Massive Guide to Homeschooling Math
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