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Mrs. Barragree's fifth grade website

"Preparing Minds for the Future;
Souls for Eternity!"

Ways to Practice Basic Math Facts and other Math Concepts

Online Resources:

  • XtraMath reviews and quizzes you on basic math facts in 7-10 minutes a day! It gradually increases the difficulty as you master your facts. Use your classroom code so that your progress can be seen by your parents and your teacher.
  • Spacey Math from "LearningPlanet" is a videogame-style way to practice basic math facts. (Just close the commercial windows that pop up at the beginning.)
  • Math Basics from Edu4Kids makes very customizable flash cards and other math practice questions.  Use the Math General link on the left of the page, then choose the Flashcards tab at the top.
  • A wide variety of single and multi-player math practice games are available at Arcademics!
  • Superkids creates worksheets and answer keys for free.
  • A Plus Math Worksheets creates worksheets and answer keys for free AND offers answer-and-check online!
  • Multiplication.com includes resources for multiplication fact practice and memorization, with online, individual, and group games
  • "Multiplication Rock!" is a series of short music videos that reviews the 2-9 multiplication facts, and 0.
  • Break the Wall interactives allow you to choose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Higher levels include facts up to 12's.

Practicing Multiplication* Facts Off-line:

  • Use multiplication flash cards. Make two piles as you go, a pile of facts you know immediately and a second pile of facts that you got inocrrect or had to think about to get the right answer. Concentrate on the seond pile, and every now and then review the ones you already have memorized.
  • Roll two dice and multiply the numbers on the two faces together. For a greater challenge, get 8, 10, 12, or 20-sided dice from a hobby store. For a more basic review, get a 4-sided die from a hobby store.
  • Shuffle a deck of cards, place them in a stack, face-down. Turn up the top to cards and multiply the numbers on the two faces together. For a greater challenge, use only the higher numbers and the face cards (which can be Jack=11, Queen=12, King=13). For a more basic review, use just the lower numbers until you have them well-learned.
  • While riding in the car, try multiplying numbers that you see on road signs (like speed limit 45 is 4x5, or mile marker 123 can be 12x3) or use license plate numbers.
  • Have somebody orally quiz you on your facts any time that you are waiting in line, in the car, or have other "free" time.

*Note: These practice methods may be adapted to practice addition and subtraction facts as well!

Practice Activities for other Math Concepts:

  • Estimation, Computation, and Mental Math: Have your student keep a grocery list as you shop. Record the price fo each item and how many of that item were purchased. At the store, have your student estimate (round to the nearest dollar or half-dollar) and mentally add up the total amount spent. Is this a reasonable estimate when compared to the actual total from check-out? At home, your student can use pencil and paper to add the actual prices recorded as you shopped. Use your receipt to check the answer. (Remember to use the pre-tax total as the answer key!) If wrong, go back slowly and find the error. When it is correct (no matter how many tries it takes), rejoice, celebrate, and reward! For higher math concepts, calculate that tax with your local tax rate, include any coupons or special discount offers, comparison shop for better deals... compare smaller size containers to larbe, bulk size containers to see of there is a cost-per-unit (oz., number of products, etc.) savings.
  • Practice fractions while cooking! Try doubling a recipe, or cutting it in half. Play with measuring cups and spoons: for example, if the recipe needs one-half cup, but that is dirty, what can be used instead?
  • Have your child decide how a cake, pie, or casserolle should be cut to serve the correct number of people easily. Let them try! Was the plan a success? What might they do differently next time?
  • Practice large-numer addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Throw in some decimals. Use dollars and cents. After your student tries with pencil and paper, let him or her use a calculator to check the answers. Do go ober any mistakes step-by-step and find the error with your child. Praise correct answers, praise effort, praise calculator skills, praise being able to locate and correct errors!

Keep in mind:

  • Celebrate success!
  • Minimize difficulties.
  • Take breaks.
  • Tell a joke.
  • Include a treat.
  • Do just a little at time.
  • Choose a time and place that allow you to work together in a relaxed atmosphere without many interruptions.
  • Make it your special time when others need to "do their own thing" unless there's an emergency.
  • If you seem to be frustrating your student, step back for a bit. Think: Can she/he do it alone? Could an older sibling help? Are you expecting too much? Does he/she just need a break?
  • Be proud of yourself and your student! You are both working hard to make improvements.