Math Fact Fluency Can Be Practiced ANYWHERE - What Parents Can Do!

Math Fact Fluency is still an important skill that requires all hands on deck in order for students to know their math facts well - forwards, backwards, up, down, all around. Teachers have been emphasizing math facts in various ways, but are asking for parent assistance to help our students practice in a variety of ways.

To practice fact fluency at home, parents can use methods like flash cards, playing math-based games, incorporating math into everyday activities, utilizing manipulatives, creating timed practice sessions, mixing in previously learned facts with new ones, and celebrating milestones to keep their child motivated. 

Specific strategies:

• Flash cards:

  Traditional flash cards are a great way to practice basic math facts, with options to add variations like speed drills or asking the child to explain their reasoning. 

• Math games:

  Play classic games like "Go Fish" or "Concentration" with math facts on the cards, or create your own games with dice or spinners. 

• Everyday math:

  Incorporate math into daily life by asking questions like "How many apples do we need to buy?" or "What time will it be in 30 minutes?" 

• Manipulatives:

  Use physical objects like counters or blocks to visualize math problems, especially helpful for younger children. 

• Timed practice:

  Set a timer for a quick burst of fact practice to build speed and recall. It’s easy to find practice time-tests with facts on the website

• Fact families:

  Focus on related facts like "2 + 3 = 5" and "5 - 3 = 2" to help children see connections. 

• Mix old and new:

  Regularly review previously learned facts while introducing new ones to maintain fluency. 

• Positive reinforcement:

  Praise your child's effort and celebrate their progress to keep them motivated. 

• Math apps and online games:

  Utilize educational apps or online platforms that offer interactive math practice. 

• Create math stories:

  Make up fun stories that involve math problems to make practice more engaging. 

• Dominoes:

  Use dominoes to practice multiplication facts by looking at the dot patterns. 

Important points to remember:

• Regular practice: Short practice sessions daily are more effective than long, infrequent ones. 

• Differentiate practice: Tailor practice to your child's specific needs and level. 

• Make it fun: Incorporate games and activities to make practicing math facts enjoyable. 

We hope that parents can try some of these strategies on the way to school, at pick up, after dinner, etc.