Memorizing Math Facts

[akalori]

I had an interesting thought.  When I taught my daughter to read I just taught her to memorize words and had faith that she would work out the phonics herself, and it mostly worked.  Now I wish that my son memorized his math facts before he learned the practical dynamics of addition.  I'm sure he would have worked out the meaning of addition.  Now, although he has some of his math facts memorized, he refuses to trust or exert his memory.  Instead each and every time, he counts out the problem to ensure he has the accurate answer.  It has become an intractable habit.  I wonder if any of our kids had success memorizing the facts first then learning the meaning and application later. Does anyone teach it that way?  Maybe I'll get this right when it is my daughter's turn to learn it.

Lori

[ruamulla]

found this and i would like to share
http://www.triggermemorysystem.com/TimesTalesEditions.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/triggermemory
http://www.teachingwithtlc.com/2011/07/using-mnemonics-to-learn-multiplication.html

[eschlem]

Hi Lori again,

I just wanted to clarify, after getting more info, that the Kumon students don't all actually do 10 pages.  They do from 2 - 10 pages a night, depending on their ability, so it's tailored to each student.  And the questions go up to 10 - 12 per side.  The advanced students do 10 pages a night, but that's the maximum. 

80 questions sounds like quite an accomplishment, I think.  It sounds like you are doing all you can to help your son, I have to commend you for that.

In the future, I will probably supplement the math instruction with workbooks from Singapore Math, or something similar.  I've heard that Kumon is limited in terms of word problems, but good for drills and quick calculations.  I'm not sure, this is just the impression I get from the research I've done.

I had DD watch the Kid 2020 Math Facts DVD and before that the Brainy Baby 123 DVD after it was clear she was decoding words.  I flashed numbers with dots and math symbols, and did little math puzzles with her.  But for some reason, it didn't stick right away as the reading did.  The math symbols didn't stick in her mind.  It appeared that math was a more difficult subject to teach, and it didn't hold her interest as the reading.  Though she had trouble counting objects without skipping here and there, she was able to recognize numbers (I think this is where her reading ability helped).  That's when I decided to try out Kumon.

Now she's able to rote count, and write her numbers.  The math symbols I flashed before naturally started coming to her (which again proves that early learning does help, it stays with them, even if it doesn't appear to stick at the time). 

I also have the impression from this forum that there is much more success with early learning reading.  Math in general just appears to be somewhat more difficult for little ones to pick up. 

[linzy]

Lori, there is a homeschool program called "Robinson Method" and that is what it advocates. Maybe a quick demonstration of what the processes are, but really just rote memorization first and understanding later. They advocate teaching all four processes from the time children begin school and rather than wait until children are "developmentally ready" to tackle the different equations just get them in their heads and then they are ready for Saxon 5/4.

[akalori]

Linzy, 
Thanks!!!! I will look into the "Robinson Method."  It is too late to fix the way addition was taught but once he masters these addition facts.  Unfortunately he also learned to subtract by counting on a number-line.  However I could use the "Robinson Method" for multiplication and division.

Eschlem,
I wish I could say my son is a little one.  He is 8 yrs old but has some learning issues so he is working on the same skills as the advanced brillkids preschoolers.   He is now doing 100 problems every morning.  Due to his learning issues, he tends to need more practice than most kids to master new skills.  I am glad to hear that he is doing the maximum number of problems.  Somewhere I heard that usually kumon kids work on addition for 6 months, so there is hope yet for my son to achieve mastery.  We have been doing addition worksheets since June.  I also have a 4 yr old who is ready for addition but I am waiting for my son to master it first.  In the meanwhile, she is completing her second kindergarten level math book.  She is going to die of boredom if I don't move her up to addition soon.

Lori

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