Strategies for Learning Math Facts - Addition and Subtraction Facts

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Math facts are a fact of school life - given new emphasis in the Common Core Standards adopted by 45 states. How can you help your children learn these facts so that they can move on to more advanced mathematical concepts?

General Strategies for Learning Math Facts

Learning facts in families is a good way to increase mastery. Always have your child learn facts in related groups. 2+3, 3+2, 5-3, and 5-2 are all related facts. So are 4x6, 6x4, 24 divided by 4, and 24 divided by 6. If a child learns facts in groups, it will actually lower the number of "new" facts to be learned. For a good way to practice (here's an oldie but goodie!), make flash cards with two related facts together on the same card (for example, both 4+5 and 5+4 on the front of the same card with 9 on the back as the answer to both problems).

Have your students learn all of the "doubles" first. These are easy ones to remember, and there are only two related facts for each double: 4+4 and 8-4, for example.

No matter which facts your child is learning, it is a good idea to mark off the facts that have already been mastered on a fact chart. This helps to track progress, and also is a good visual for seeing how few facts there are left to learn. For example, by the time your child gets to the 6 times table, she already should know:

• 1x6
• 2x6
• 3x6
• 4x6
• 5x6
• and 6x6 

from the previous times tables and the doubles. That only leaves three new facts: 7x6, 8x6,and 9x6 to be learned. Looking at the few new ones is much more encouraging than looking at the whole table, and students will be happy to see how many they already knows.

Addition and Subtraction Fact Strategies

Doubles Plus One - Once your student has mastered the doubles, teach the "doubles plus one" strategy. For all facts that are one away from a "double" - for example, 4+5 , it is easy to remember the double fact, 4+4, and just add one to the answer. So if 4+4=8, then 4+5 is 9, one more than 8. This will also work as a "doubles minus one" strategy. In the above example, if the student knows 5+5 better, then 4+5 is one LESS than 10.

Counting On - For addition facts that involve a larger number plus 2, 3, or 4, teach students to "count on" to find the answer. For example, in 3+8, have students start with the 8 and count on three more - "nine, ten, eleven" to find the answer.

Strategies for learning multiplication and division facts will be the topic of a related article.

Learn those Basic Number Facts

Number facts are the building blocks of all other computation. According to the Common Core, by the end of Grade 2, children should be proficient in addition and subtraction of single digit numbers. One children have learned the basics, they are then free to apply those to the range of mathematical concepts that the standards encompass.

Working with your child at home is important, and will help him to memorize these basic facts to that he will be free to move on to higher and more complex mathematical learning. Make learning them fun for your child. Encourage success, and he or she will continue to be successful in all math endeavors. Have some fun with those facts, and your child will learn them in no time!

Resources

Common Core Standards Initiative. About the Standards. (2012). Accessed August 1, 2013.

US Department of Education. The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. (2008). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Candler, Laura. Math Fact Mastery and the Common Core. (2013). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Expert Corner: Math Fact Fluency and the Common Core. (2012). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Common Core Standards Initiative.  Common Core Math Scope & Sequence.(2010). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Shenendahowa Central School. Math Facts. (2010). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Lewin, Tamar. "Panel Proposes Streamlining Math." New York Times. (2008). Accessed August 1, 2013.

Taylor, Irene. Common Core Standards: Do Kids need to Learn Math Facts? (2013).

Taylor, Irene. Study Skills and Learning Games. (2012).

Taylor, Irene. Helping with Homework: A Success Guide for Teachers and Parents. (2012).

Copyright 2013 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.