Hello Darlings!

Math.

It can be an ugly word for some students (and even teachers). 

Why do you ask?

• There are one million strategies to teach it.
• The options for manipulatives are endless (it’s a tad overwhelming). 
• There are millions of tears shed for those students that struggle learning it (I don’t know the exact number, but you get what I am trying to say here). 

What can help?

In order to help my kiddos that struggle with learning math, I use a good ‘ol math strategy I like to call memorizing. 

Okay…Okay…before you think I’m crazy, let me explain!

I teach my third grade students strategies for memorizing math facts, so that they can solve hard math problems as they move to fourth grade, fifth grade etc. Students with a strong foundation of basic math facts will have an easier time when they begin to tackle more advanced math, like fractions or pre-algebra. 

It’s ok to memorize!

When you teach your third, fourth, or fifth grade students how to memorize math facts easily they will…

• Feel more confident
• Solve multi-step math problems more quickly
• Feel less stressed in learning and practicing math problems, math strategies, etc.

In my upper elementary classroom, there are no consequences for not memorizing math facts, except for longer working time. For students with math, testing, or overall anxiety, I do not give them timed math work or math assessments. It’s about setting my kiddos up for success and appropriately seeing exactly what they know and exactly the areas I can better help them in. 

Here’s some resources to help!

With setting students up for math success, I wanted to also share with you some online resources my students use for practice, review, math challenges, and more.

• www.Xtramath.org 
• https://ascendmath.com/fcm/html5/
• https://www.roomrecess.com/mobile/FastFacts/play.html

My third grade students absolutely love these multiplication games and math centers as well: 

Multiplications Bootcamp Missions

Pixel Art Jokes with Multiplication Facts

Make Your Move Game Multiplication

What multiplication strategies do you use to help your kiddos who may struggle with math? I would love to hear about your strategies to learn math facts!