Best method for math facts

[joensally]

Hi there, I'm hoping for some help with DD learning her math facts.

She's 11 and can't retain her multiplication tables and some of her addition/subtraction facts. The multiplication is the most problematic. This has been an issue for 2+ years.

She has a low threshold for frustration and repetition, and for other things has a near photographic memory. She has decent math thinking skills, she just can't get the multiplication tables down.

I'm not homeschooling either child this year, but hoped someone here would have some ideas. I have Singapore, Jump Math and those multiplication puzzles (each is a circle and the back is a great work of art). I think she might respond to a computer program, but don't know what's available.

TIA for any help. I'm really trying to get rid of her math phobia.

[Marimami]

Well, I was SO excited when I re-discovered the songs that my teacher used to teach us the multiplication tables way back in the '70s. They're cheesy now but I still hear the songs in my head!

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/happalmer31

Hap Palmer sings the multiplication tables!

Holli

[PGTlatte]

For multiplication, Timez Attack is fun and free.

For addition/subtraction, what I did with our son was to take a deck of flash cards and go through them. Anything he didn't know instantly went into one pile, anything he did went into another. We kept going through the "don't know" pile and revising it until there were none left for that pile. For the ones that were really tough for him, I came up with either mathematical patterns or creative memory tricks to help.

[rootzdawta]

Originally Posted by Marimami

Well, I was SO excited when I re-discovered the songs that my teacher used to teach us the multiplication tables way back in the '70s. They're cheesy now but I still hear the songs in my head!

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/happalmer31

Hap Palmer sings the multiplication tables!

Holli

Along these lines, there's Multiplication Rock.

[Mere]

I've heard that songs really do stick. We're still working on addition and I haven't found any great songs for that. Meanwhile, we're just doing flashcards...every day. We made it all the way up through ten, but it was obvious he wasn't retaining everything so now we're going back and reviewing it all again. It's going faster the second time through, but I bet he still won't have completely mastered it by the time we're done. I see this as something that takes time and practice, and lots of repetition.

I'd love to hear other ideas, because flashcards are not particularly exciting. I've thought about working in some games as part of our regular homework time; that might help break things up.

[moominmamma]

There's the Flashmaster. Simple, bare bones math drill without any window dressing, but it's customizable and private, so that kids can do it by themselves with instant feedback but no judgment.

There are two programs that make stories or pictures out of multiplication facts. There's "Memorize in Minutes" and "Times Tales." I can't vouch for either of these, but I know some families who have found one or the other quite helpful.

Skip-counting or multiplication rock type songs can be helpful for some.

Other kids do best by learning mental math shortcuts and tricks that allow them to quickly compute the answer to multiplication problems. This means that there are much fewer that need to be memorized. For instance knowing that 9 times something is ten times it less that amount. So 9x6 is 60-6. Or knowing that x4 means "double, then double again" or x8 means "double, double, double." This Natural Math chart shows that there are really only thirteen multiplication facts that need to be memorized.

It's really a question of digging around until you find the approach that works for your child, contingent on her learning style and motivation.

Miranda

[LoMaH]

Ditto what everyone else has suggested (online games, skip counting songs, etc.)

Here are a few more ideas;

Printable games/puzzles
http://superteacherworksheets.com/multiplication.html

Use hundreds charts. Print out a filled chart for each factor. Say you're doing the 6 times tables, have your dd color in every 6th number (6, 12, 18, etc.). Then you can discuss any noticeable patterns.
http://donnayoung.org/math/100-number.htm

List of math literature for multiplication (check your library)
http://livingmath.net/ReaderLists/Mu...S/Default.aspx

You can watch SchoolHouse Rock Multiplication on youtube:
3x tables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LZ4j4598ws

6 X tables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwkgNf69ihY

7 X tables
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDHTJGVWgG4

[Pookietooth]

love to hear more about songs.

[AAK]

I have been reading too much lately but in the book "Smart Moves" as well as some others, it is offered up that you might want to add movement.

If she is up for it, perhaps have her dance or do jumping jacks while she sings the songs or chants the tables.

Amy

[simple living mama]

The solution? Chocolate!

I had to laugh because the, one and only, time I ever used sweets to help my children remember something was, with the multiplication tables. I just made a 1-12 cube chart and covered each answer with a the "mini" chips. In all honestly it takes a huge amount to get one table spoon of chocolate. And for every question I throw out and they get right, it becomes theirs to eat. It was fun, and I'm glad for the memory as now they are a bit older.

[JavaFinch]

Originally Posted by Mere

I've heard that songs really do stick. We're still working on addition and I haven't found any great songs for that. Meanwhile, we're just doing flashcards...every day. We made it all the way up through ten, but it was obvious he wasn't retaining everything so now we're going back and reviewing it all again. It's going faster the second time through, but I bet he still won't have completely mastered it by the time we're done. I see this as something that takes time and practice, and lots of repetition.

I'd love to hear other ideas, because flashcards are not particularly exciting. I've thought about working in some games as part of our regular homework time; that might help break things up.

Have you looked into touchmath? My son did 2 years of Math-U-See and it did not stick at all - he couldn't add without the blocks. We switched to the touchmath method, which is basically how I add (but didn't call it 'touchmath') and that was much easier for him. We don't use touchmath for multiplication, but it works great for adding and subtracting. Their curriculum is expensive, but basically all your child needs is to memorize where the 'touchpoints' are, and they have printable worksheets you can buy pretty inexpensively that will allow them to get the gist of that, and then you can use other math worksheets/curriculum once they 'see' the touchpoints in their mind.

[Lillian J]

I'm going to post a link here to what I just posted in another thread that asked about a 10 yr. old boy. - Lillian

[LauraLoo]

Hey joensally!
I posted this on another thread, but maybe your dd would like this. If I remember, she's artistic:

http://robinsunne.com/robinsunnes_multiplication_clock

If she has good visualization memory, maybe this would do the trick.

GL!