More Math.

I guess I'm on a math roll as of lately. I've been trying to keep things fun around here and we needed a little break from the usual Saxon. We are still doing our regular math lessons from Saxon, but I've been mixing in a little of this and a little of that.

As I posted earlier, we have been reviewing and learning multiplication facts. Our multiplication lapbook was a great way to get Marco to review, but I know you can't just do a lapbook and expect success. So I've incorporated some other things to shake things up.

First of all, if you haven't heard of FlashMaster...you need to check it out! The FlashMaster is a $50 little computer that helps your child master his math facts. Overall, it's an electronic version of flashcards. You don't need to get fancy when teaching facts, but Marco likes using this and it's a great way to test and review.

Looking for something online? Try Multiplication.com! I found this website while perusing the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. Multiplication.com is a free website that helps kids learn their facts. With pre-tests, interactive games, evaluations, and resources...it's well worth a look!! If anything, the games are a great and fun way for kids to practice their facts. We really enjoy it!!

Lastly, another great website for learning math facts (not just multiplication) is KidsNumbers.com. This website is mostly math games but also offers a worksheet generator and a free 12 week foundations program that is supposed to help kids focus on math skills needed to succeed. I haven't personally tried the program, but the games are fun!

Hope I've helped some of you on your journey to make math a little more interesting and fun!

Multiplication Lapbook. Update!

Well, we've been slowly working on our math lapbook and still have some math facts to go. But I thought I'd post how far we are along so you can see what we've been up to. Eventually, we'll have a fully finished product.

You can find many of these folds here. Just print them out and fill in what you want!! Lapbooking is as easy or complicated as you want it to be!!





Here is a brief explanation of what folds I used for each times table. You can click on some of the description and it will take you to that particular fold on Homeschool Helper.

2 times table: petal fold
5 times table: 10 section wheel or circle petal (created this through Word)
6 times table: layered book
7 times table: flashcards held in an envelope
4 times table: flap book (created this through Word)
3 times table: flap book
10 times table: fan fold (or accordion fold)

As you can tell, we are missing the multiplication tables for 1, 8, and 9. No rush here!! This lapbook will probably be around for a long while!!

Multiplication Math Lapbooking.

We have always done Saxon for our math studies. It is straightforward for me to teach, the kids don't hate it, and I think it is a wonderfully strong program. But at times, math can get a little boring for both teacher and student. My solution to mixing things up? Lapbooks!!

Marco is working on his multiplication...I won't say what lesson we are for fear of embarrassment, but things are going fairly well. We just need a little push; something different to make it fun. So I searched high and low for a quick lapbook and found some really great sites!

We will use a combination of these different sites, just to make this multiplication lapbook our own. Hope you find the following links useful. We'll be spending the rest of the afternoon cutting, pasting, learning, and reviewing our multiplication tables. Pictures will follow!!

PDF of a mulitiplication lapbook (and links to other lapbooks as well)
Multiplication File Folder Games (good for lapbooks too!)
A good visual of a multiplication lapbook from blogger Dishpan Dribble.
Another visual from Dots and Daisies.
Multiplication Facts Game Lapbook (for a more game oriented lapbook)

Let's Just Cancel Math!

Using Saxon Math has been great for us. I really like the layout and that it uses a spiral approach. Lately, however, I have found that I just want the kids to solidify their basic math facts so that they become second nature. I don't want much thinking to go into it...just spit out the answer!

Although Marco is doing well with his math facts, I want him to improve on recognition and speed. We do the timed portions from the book, but I really would like more of that same kind of practice. Isabella, on the other hand, is still working on doubles and only has half of them down. I would blame this partially on myself, since I haven't put too heavy a focus on it. She is after all, a preschooler.

But as the end of the year approaches, I really want the kids to be solid in math. So I have searched high and low for a supplement that will help them in recalling math facts. I came across several and finally decided on Calculadders. It seems like their program is what I was looking for...a daily dose of math problems that would make recalling math facts as automatic as breathing!

My only problem after purchasing and receiving their Master Pak CD, is that they don't progress through math facts in the same order as is presented in Saxon Math. This is actually not a problem for Marco, who is completing Saxon Math 2. But this is a problem for Isabella, who is in the midst of Saxon Math 1 (she hasn't come across all the math facts yet). So begins the hunt for math worksheets that will supplement the order of Saxon. Was I successful? A big fat...NO!

So I have spent an hour of my time creating my own math worksheets...starting with the doubles. So far it is exactly what I need for my budding mathematician. While Marco is beginning his daily dose of Calculadder's "Learning Vitamins," Isabella is working on her own Mommy-created math worksheets. I plan on keeping this up, especially with Isabella, until I feel satisfied with their speed.

I am posting the following links to two math fact worksheets I created. They offer only doubles math facts practice.

Doubles Math Facts Practice Sheet (This has only 25 problems)
Super Doubles Math Facts Practice Sheet (This has a whopping 70 problems on it)

I'll make sure to post more if I need to create them!