Which facts/fact families have your children memorized (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and up to what number? Up to 12? 18? Which method is easiest for memorization? Flashcards? Math keyboards? etc.
From personal experience growing up in Cornwall, we had to learn our tables up to 12 by the age of 6. Even today (and I won't admit to how many years later), I can respond in an instant when asked to multiply two numbers together - and I'm sure that's true of all others who had to do this. It's been incredibly useful in life. In retrospect, since I'm someone who loves math, I wish I'd had to learn my tables up to 20, not just 12. At age 11, I had to know squares up to 20, but I wish I could tell you in an instant what is 17x19, for example. How did we learn? Note - this was in a PS classroom. We had to recite our tables over and over every day. For sure, it worked for me - but I'm sure there are better methods. At home, my parents were forever playing card games to help with math, so this may have contributed some as well (adding two 8s, three tens, etc. when totaling points at the end of a game). PS: In Cornwall, we have strong accents (although I've lost mine now), and I can still remember the entire class having to sit with our hands on our heads all afternoon - because someone said "two twos is four" instead of "two twos are four". Urgh.
my son made a times table up to 20 because he was writing them all down each time he did his multiplication problems to larger digits and it was getting messy, he wanted one to a 100 times tables but it would take too much room lol. repeating them out loud while writing is always helpful here
LOL, good stories! You both made me laugh. My daughter is going into 1st grade and we are doing CLP. I took the Liberty math option over Modern Curriculum Press and regret it. It seems a little much for her to memorize up to 18, and only have one day before moving on to the next fact family. I just don't see that happening. I am considering ordering R&S math (and crying over my losses on the Liberty math)... they only go up to 10 in 1st grade... and give more time in between each fact. Which would you have your child do? I agree that they should learn as many as possible... up to 18 would be great, but I don't want to move so quickly she gets frustrated! I'm also thinking about gettine one of those addition keyboards... I had one when I was little and it is helpful. If you don't know what I am talking about, you can look it up on Mardel's website.
I am bad about nnot changing once I bought it I would alter the work they had to fit my needs.. my ds did not have his down as to do 100 times tables but he chose to add it in becuase we kind of make it work for us. If they get it the first few times why kill them with doing the same thing every time its there? I am not sure what R&S mathlooks liek I will check it out... I do know they have good reading programs and such! I will lok at MCP as well for you and giv eyou my take on it. I think I almost ordered it one year. Personally my favorite grade school math is Horizon math. cbd.com/horizonmath shoudl get you there!
Rod and stafff looks like Abeka Math style very cool! and modern math has great reviews, what were your reasons for choosing the one you did annd do they have a return policy?
Phillip has been doing multiplication flashcards this summer. He was being a pain about learning them, so I told him he HAD to have them down by the end of the summer, and that his DAD was going to work on them with him. It's helped. He's doing pretty good. I also like to give timed tests, and chart the progress. You can set a goal...95% for three days in a row or something like that...and reward it with Dairy Queen. (Always a good incentive!) Or maybe a GIGANTIC chocolate bar!!! Here's a great site for creating worksheets: http://themathworksheetsite.com/ And it was created by a hs'ing dad!!!
In arithmetic, the only thing that is really necessary to really "memorize" is the multiplication table. The rest is more of understanding rather than memorization. (ex: one dog met up with two dogs, how many dogs are there?)
I disagree. You also need to have your addition/subtraction/division facts memorized, too. Can you live without doing that? Absolutely. But it sure makes life a whole lot easier if you don't have to sit and count each time.
TeacherMom, I do not really remember exactly why I chose Liberty Math instead of MCP... I do remember thinking "what if I don't like MCP?" Then both wouldn't have to do it, I guess. I do like MCP and will do that next year for my daughter. This year, I have pretty much decided to order R&S math. I was going to get another workbook to try and supplement, but I don't know... I just decided the Liberty math can be used for when the kids complain of boredom (lol) or over the summer. I ordered Liberty math a few months ago, so I have passed the time allowed for returns. I really should have looked at it a little more when I first received it! I definitely want the kids to memorize... my 8 year old did not have to with his previous math and still counts on his fingers! So now he has to memorize it this year.
My dd10 still struggles with memorizing her multiplication, I guess she'll eventually get it if we keep it up. The hardest part is, she hates math, so when it's time to get it out.... She's not too thrilled.
and you know you will probably think he has it down but keep working with him on it, my ds still works on it when the problems arise we go back to square one to recite and work on memorization and everything again. Even today I forget some and have to double think, then get it right. So I knowthey need the repetition in these areas just to make it easier for thier own lives in the future if nothing else. I have taught my kids to on the spot figure the percentage off at a sale or on clearance to figure roughly and exact numbers. Thats how they determine if they are getting a good deal or not when they make a purchase.
FWIW.... I agree w/ the other posters. Memorization of facts is important. It's not always a child's favorite thing. (or a parent's ) But that early foundation in math is so important to the future ease and success of later math. LR
I wound up ordering R&S (for my daughter) tonight. I really want her to get her facts down and I heard great reviews about R&S for the younger grades. We are just going to use the Liberty math for extra practice, which won't be too much as most fact families only have ONE page when intoduced! How are they supposed to retain anything if there is only one page for most of the facts?! ?? Anyway, I don't think we'll have that problem with R&S!
Good for you! I'm glad you've found something that looks like a good fit for you and that you feel good about. LR
Faith I am happy for you! And delighted that you found something to help make it work! Thinking ahead check out Horizon math listenting ( reading) to your words I think it will work for you, it introduces then reminds each day. Its I think what they call a spiral approach but it introduces a thing, then you have 2-3 pages of work dealing with areas of math that actually are connected to this on review levels, then the next day you take a baby step, and repeat whatyou learned the first day, and review the other things, and so on... .thats why I like it so much, that and it is colorful and short sections keep my kids focused on the facts. Anyway for this year keep with your new plan! But look at it for next year! ha! Look I have you already planning for 2011!
Thanks guys! I really do feel good about R&S for this year. I don't think I will use it every year (I hear it does not teach as much as others do in the higher grades), but maybe for the next couple of years. I will look into Horizon math, thanks! Don't worry... I always think about the upcoming years.
I need tricks and games to help memorize mult. tables. Both boys went to PS where they learned to skip count instead of just memorizing facts. ugh ugh. I thought in helping them I would learn mine better. (I have some memorized but have to count up or down, very slow and frustrating.) the eldest learned his basically on his own because this stuff makes sense to him. the younger is resisting indoctrination. (ha ha) We do games on the computer...but besides just writing them over and over?? any tricks? I guess we better start writing. sigh.
I just started a new thread as well about any tricks or tips to memorizing these tables. Right now we're writing and saying them over and over! That's probably the best and most effective way though. Maybe i'll just start rewarding her for every table she's got down with a trip somewhere little, like for ice cream or the Dollar store with a few dollars, I know mine love that. Maybe a little reward will make it more tolerable because my dd is not a fan of math.
I have a question! How do you memorize the addition facts? I never had to do that as a child but I think it would be nice for my younger dds to start with that. Do you do it just like the times tables and what number do you usually go up to? Thanks
