Previously on Maths Insider
In the introduction I promised to guide you through a method which will help your child become lightening fast at Mental Maths. I’ve made 2 short videos to show you a simple method which, with just a few minutes a day will improve your child’s Mental Maths skills.
Where to Start?
So you’ve asked a mental maths question or 2, you’ve got some serious pausing or hesitation, you’re not going to get mad or even because you’ve got Maths Insider to guide you to a solution.
Watch the video for full instructions and an explanation of where to start. A summary of the video is shown below:
Video Summary
- Find your child’s weak points by asking increasingly more difficult questions such as 3+1, 7+1, 9+1, then some +3’s, then +5’s etc
- If your child pauses or struggles with any of the answers, this is their weak point.
- Choose a starting point 2 steps easier than their weak point. If they struggle at +3’s start at +1’s, if they struggle at +7’s start at +5’s etc.
In Part 2, I’ll show you a website where you can make free mental maths worksheets and how to use these worksheets to help your child become faster at Mental Maths.
Did you try this yet? Was it easy to find your child’s mental maths weak spot?
Caroline,
This is great! I was a little upset at first that I couldn’t get all the info without having to click multiple links but the info you provide is well worth it! I like the concept of identifying weaknesses by asking questions and seeing where they struggle. I’m sharing this with all my family and friends because I want kids and their parents to become more comfortable when it comes to learning math.
Roland
This is definitely helpful, Caroline. It’s good to know where your child’s weak point is, and help them from there. I wonder, do you have any suggestion for a child who’s got no interest in memorizing the math facts table? I also tried giving her just worksheets to solve every now and then. But when it’s written, she takes her time solving it, and you know they are counting on their head…
Cherrie Bautista
Hi Cherrie!
Great that you found the article helpful!
One great method to increase your daughter’s maths confidence is using games? I have an article on Maths Insider which shows some games you could play together to help improve her times tables 4 Merry Times Tables Games.
Once her confidence and fluency have increased, you can start slowly introducing worksheets.
Hope this helps!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.theerthaonline.magictimestables
Studies have shown and continues to prove that, if we allow our children to use calculator indiscriminately, the brain will deteriorate and results in increased mathematical illiteracy.
It is too hard to put the whole table into your memory at once. So, learn it in “chunks” ……… Playing games is always a really effective way of learning.
Magic Times Tables, helps your child to memorize Tables with more fun and joy, engages them in activity based learning. Playing this beautiful game, you’ll soon know your times tables inside out. Answer the questions as fast as you can, but try not to get any penalties. At the end of the game you will be shown your score with Five star ratings and awarded a Crown for users above 90%.
10× is maybe the easiest of them all … just put a zero after it. 10×2=20, 10×3=30, 10×4=40, etc.
5× has a pattern: 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. It always end in either a 0 or a 5.
2× is just doubling the number. The same as adding the number to itself.
11× is mostly easy: from 11×2 to 11×9, you just put the two digits together. 11×2=22, 11×3=33, …, 11×9=99.
In fact, it is like half of the table is a mirror image of the other…..
Your life will be a lot easier when you can simply remember the multiplication tables. Use this software a few times a day for about 10 minutes each, and you will learn your tables.
All about Numeracy, Visit:www.theerthaonline.com
Hi Caroline! This website is simply amazing. It has really helped my son do his +1 +2 +3 very easily without his fingers and that too fast, say 20 questions in a minute.
My only question now is how do i start +4s without him using his fingers? So far he is using a rhythm for counting up 2s and 3s. Now for 4s he needs his fingers.
I would love to start with the 4s now so am waiting for your help.
Thanks once again for your wonderful site.
Hi Shivani, congratulations to your son on his fast arithmetic skills! Once your son is confident with +3’s , teach him that +4’s are just 1 more than +3’s. To make it easier, give him questions such as 1+3 followed by 1+4 or 5+3 followed by 5+4. Hope that helps!
Hi Caroline, Thanks once again for the tips. I will definitely try this method. Its just sooo amazing that i cant believe how he’s enjoying this too! I have downloaded a number line worksheet from 1-100 for him to get the idea too.
Thanks so much