I have a fourth grader this year, and my goal for her is that she will master her multiplication facts before we move onto division. When say “master,” I mean that she should know the answer to each problem immediately and be able to give it in under a second.
We are almost there! She has been working hard and her accuracy and speed improved so much in the last month.
We have been using five tools to help with her multiplication
facts. I figured that some fun and variety would help the process.
1. Learning Wrap-Ups. (Top middle in picture) These are a little vintage, as I remember having them when I was a fourth grader. The student wraps a string around each fact-family stick and then is able to check their accuracy by turning the stick over when finished. If the string matches the pattern on the back, each problem is correct.
I found these on Amazon.2. The FlashMaster (Left in picture)
2. Flash-Master This is a hand-held computer that times the student and keeps track of their accuracy and probgress. I love things that my kids can do on their own! This is great because it also has functions for addition, subtraction, and division. Once again, I found on Amazon.
3. FastFacts. (Right in picture) This is a cardboard sheet with square cut-outs that is laid over blank sheet of paper. The student answers the problems and then flips the sheet over to check the answers.
4. Math-U-See Drill page. This httpsis a web page that can be accessed even if you aren’t a Math-U-See (a well-known math curriculum) customer. You can customize the exact facts that your students need to practice. For example, the last time we used it, I only had her do the 8’s and 9’s, the facts that need the most practice. Again, this is wonderful for all four math functions.
5. BigBrainz.
This one is a little unconventional, but it has been wonderful for our family. This is a computer game that challenges the player to make his/her escape from a treacherous castle while having to answer math questions to enter each new area. All of my kids beg to play it. This is my kind of math. 🙂
