HOLIDAY TIME AGAIN

by | Nov 22, 2010 | differentiate, Five Times Five Is Not Ten, Holiday, homeschool, IEPs, learning addition, multiplication, problem solving, special education, subtraction, Two Plus Two Is Not Five | 0 comments

No one ever said to me, “Your books will make a wonderful wrapped birthday or holiday gift to open,” and I agree. However, Two Plus Two Is Not Five and Five Times Five Is Not Ten are two books which would be wonderful gifts-the gift of math, the gift of learning math facts so as to be successful and confident in the next levels of math.

Too many children, and even some adults who admit it to me, struggle with math, or are afraid of math. Math does not have to be scary. The entire basis for success in math is understanding what numbers mean, the relationship of numbers to each other, and learning, really learning, the math facts so that answers are automatic.

Learning to memorize all the 81 addition, 81 subtraction, and 81 multiplication facts (excluding zero) may sound overwhelming. If taught systematically, and over a period of time, with strategies to help recall the answers, then, no, it becomes easy! My books include the instructions on how to assess known facts, to record which facts are known, and then where to start in the books. (New learners start at the beginning.)

Parents who homeschool, or those who just want to help their children with math facts, and teachers, will be able to use the worksheets and strategies from the books. Teachers can use the books to differentiate for lessons. Teachers who are working with children who have IEPs will find the record-keeping and pages easy to use.
Each of the math facts are introduced with a strategy and facts will be practiced over and over throughout the book. I suggest both written and oral practice, and then to use the known and recently introduced facts in other math skills. Set up problem-solving questions using known facts, so there’s no counting on fingers while processing how to solve a problem. Using known facts when introducing new math skills such as telling time, money, measurement, fractions, decimals…

It is so important to be comfortable with math because everything around us relates back to numbers and mathematics! Can you think of one thing that does not? I can’t.