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Today we spent some time on math facts.

Yes, it is repetition.

Yes, we’ve done it ALL before.

Ugh! I’m so tired of going all over this again.

But I must get GB fluent in his math facts. I must!

The first thing we did was work on a great multiplication facts tool. It’s a kid’s freeware download. First you study the facts, then you practice either with a timer, or without. And the timer can count down from a certain amount of time, for timed trials, or you can count up if you want a little less pressure.

Later, we tried this concept, which I saw on the TV show, Kids by the Dozen, on The Learning Channel – great show by the way. On it, the mom, who homeschools all 16 of her kids (seven of whom have grown up and moved out) was working on multiplication facts with one of her little ones. And I liked her concept. Basically, you make a grid, mine was six by four. In each square you put a multiplication problem, for example this grid was working on the sixes. Then on a separately colored paper you print off the answers, cut them out and put them to the side. The child then takes the answers and covers the problems with them. This worked really well, even better than I thought it would. GB didn’t even realize that he was also practicing division with this activity.

GB also has a problem with writing. It causes him a lot of pain when he physically writes. Therefore, we do a lot of computer work. I suspect, although not officially diagnosed, that he has dysgraphia.  So we also worked a bit on his small motor skills today. Last year I got a book called Complete  A Sketch. It’s supposed to hone his dexterity and focusing skills. He really likes this book because it is not overwhelming to him, and he gets good results. At this point, he’s about half way through it.

After a bit of sketching, we headed over to his 5th grade Time4Learning math program. I must say, I really, really like this program. GB loves the cartoons and games that reinforce what he is working on. Today he was working on estimation in the billions. All of this was extremely easy for him.

If only I could get him to memorize his multiplication facts!

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