Dear Parents,
As partners in education, we have a big task before us for the new trimester! In the 2nd trimester our mathematical studies will turn to focus on multiplication. Your child's success in math will now largely be determined by their ability to study, retain, and quickly recall multiplication facts. What can you do to help your child get prepared? Teach them how to study and make sure that they follow through.
Before we went on break, I gave the students a turkey to practice their multiplication facts with and told them that they needed to get "Turkey Time" every day. Some families will prefer to use the turkey, others may use flash cards, computer/iPad games, songs, rhymes or other studying techniques. Whatever you choose to use, be persistent in making studying a daily habit. After working with 3rd graders for more than 6 years, my #1 recommendation is to study multiplication facts for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. I know what you're thinking - "30 minutes a day! How are we going to fit that in to our schedule?" 30 minutes a day sounds like a lot of time, but if you spread the minutes out in small chunks throughout the day it will build your child's confidence, reduce your child's stress over committing the facts to memory, create good studying habits for your child, and help them be successful. Brain research shows that studying is more effective when it's done in short periods of time and when it's done frequently. The more times your child accesses a particular piece of information in their brain, the faster their brain will know where to find it when they need it the next time. When it comes to learning the times tables, it really is a matter of "practice makes permanent"!
Here's are my recommendations for scheduling fact practice:
1. Limit the number of facts your child studies each day: if they have a timed test on the 2's coming up in 3 days, start studying today! Choose 6 facts for them to study today (Ex: 1 x 2, 2 x 2, 3 x 2, 4 x 2, 5 x 2, 6 x 2) and save the next 6 facts for them to study tomorrow. On the third day (the day before the test) have them review all 12 facts or just the ones they still seem to be struggling with.
2. Don't just quiz them auditorily: Many times children need something to touch, see, do, and hear to remember something. Remember to try a new method of studying if one type of studying isn't working for them. If you need more ideas, please come see me!
3. Study in 5 minute concentrated chunks throughout the day:
A. Study for 5 minutes when they wake up / are eating breakfast / brushing their teeth, etc. Make multiplication practice part of their morning routine.
Even if they have to wake up 5 minutes earlier, it will be worth it in the long run!
B. Study for 5 minutes on the way to school - have them use the turkey, a song, or flash cards. Remember your child can study facts on their own in the car so you can focus on the road :)
C. Study for 5 minutes on the way home from school or when you get home before beginning homework time.
D. Study for 5 minutes in the middle of homework: give them a writing break by having them say the facts to the Mexican Hat dance, or while touching their head, shoulders, knees and toes, or while doing jumping jacks. Get them up out of their seat to get the blood flowing, stimulate their brain, to make it more fun for them, and to give them exercise.
E. Study for 5 minutes before dinner: have them say the facts while they set the table or pour drinks for everyone in the family. The more ways that you can build fact practice into daily routines, the easier it will be to remember to do it!
F. Review facts for 5 minutes before going to sleep: quietly going through flash cards or looking at the facts written on the bathroom mirror (in dry erase marker) while brushing your teeth are both great ways to wind down and cement the facts in during one last studying session for the day.
Remember this studying routine is a suggestion to help your child be successful and feel confident about their math facts. Studying is a process. If you don't immediately see success, give it some time. If they don't work for your child after trying out these methods for a while, adapt them! If you need more suggestions, ideas, or help - just ask. We're hear to work as a team to make each child successful and to help them learn.
Don't forget, once they start getting good studying habits, they will need less reminders to study. Eventually the goal is for each child to take responsibility for their own studying habits. Chances are they aren't there yet and they don't have all of their facts down, but they will get there and we can all take pride in knowing we helped them be successful.
Your partner in education,
Miss Farmer
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