Teach Math Facts to Struggling Students
Math is one of those subjects that you have to teach and learn in sequential order. When you teach math facts to struggling learners you have to be even more intentional in helping them to understand each concept firmly along the way.
Students have to have an understanding of number sense and move their way up the ladder to basic fact fluency before moving on to harder concepts. If we take away just one of those foundational steps the whole building blocks of understanding begin to crumble.
Understanding Number Sense
Number Sense is the understanding of what numbers mean, how they work together and how they connect to real life. Most math educators agree that in order to have this understanding, students need to know that there is a relationship between the quantities and numbers and that students need to be able to describe and manipulate that information.
If you have a child that is struggling to memorize or understand basic math facts, they probably are struggling with number sense. I remember long ago in kindergarten, our teachers taught that concept with visual numbers. I can still picture those numbers today across our classroom wall. Each number was big and had a black dot on it that represented the quantity of that number. To this day, I add by visually seeing, in my mind, those dots.
How do you teach Number Sense?
- At the very basic level we help students understand that each number represents a quantity. This can be practice with real life objects and animals.
- Legs on an animal
- Shoes come in pairs
- The number of wheels on cars, bikes, tricycles
- Write a number and have students place an appropriate number of objects under that number to show the quantity.
- Using a number line practice counting forward and backward so that students see that numbers increase in quantity as they move forward and decrease as they move backward.
- Teach what the different mathematical symbols mean.
- Teach strategies for understanding math problems
- Adding making tens (manipulating numbers to make multiples of tens)
- Adjusting numbers by adding or subtracting to make the problem easier
Introduce Math Facts
It stands to reason that once students have an understanding that each number represents a quantity, they are ready to move on to putting those quantities together to create math facts.
Teach Math facts Concretely
Number sense is put to good use here, students should understand that when they see 2+3=5 that each number represents that number of objects and that any number after the equal is the sum total of those objects.
- Use manipulatives to practice adding facts. Manipulatives like unifix cubes are perfect because they can show two separate numbers and then they can join together representing the sum.
- Use Ten Frames
- Use a number line to practice counting on
Teach Math Facts using Games
Turn the task of learning math facts into something fun by using games to reinforce the concepts.
Bingo is a great game to play for all math facts. This one is fun!
Or Check out this one from The Hess Academy
Teach Facts abstractly
Once students have a concrete understanding of numbers and how they work and function with symbols, now is the time to break out the pencil and paper and have students practice their number facts without any concrete objects to help them. This is also when we focus on mental math as well. Can your student picture the fact in their head? Are they using the strategies that they have learned to solve it?
Teach Math Facts for fluency
Once you know that your student has a solid understanding of the relationship between numbers, and they understand what each symbol means and can do problems abstractly on paper or in their head- then you can move on to practicing the facts for fluency. Ideally students should be able to see a basic math fact and be able to give an answer within 3 seconds.
- Play games with playing cards
- Use Flashcards
- Sing songs or chants to practice skip counting or specific math strategies
Websites For Math Fact Practice
Funbrain – This website has a lot of games for different subject areas and a great selection of math games for fact practice.
Math Game Time has fun interactive games that you can get started on right away.
Number Rock has tons of fun videos that teach math facts and concepts with very catchy tunes.
Math Playground has games and activities at all levels and for many different math concepts.
Multiplication.com has games, quizzes and flashcards to practice multiplication.
Matific Math Galaxy– This isn’t a free program but it is a great one for younger students to practice their math skills. Read my review here.
Looking for more Math Activities?
Mastering Multiplication Facts
Teach Place Value with Games and Activities
Teach and Practice using Money with the Grocery Game
Teach Patters with this fun Game
Teach Elementary Statistics with Skittles!
Angela is the Homeschool Encourager for the Overwhelmed & Under-Caffeinated and the Chaos-to-Confidence Specialist behind Schooling with Grace. With a no-fluff approach, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, she helps homeschool moms cut through the chaos, ditch unrealistic expectations, and teach with confidence.