At Edgewood, we don't give a lot of homework. We don't because time and time again, research shows that it doesn't usually help student learning.
That doesn't, mean, though, that practicing school things at home doesn't help. Last week I talked about how you can make time for reading at home, which IS proven to have a big impact on student learning. (The more you read, the more you know. The amount you read has a strong correlation with how many vocabulary words you know, which is really important).
This week, I'll share some math tips. Fluency with math facts helps with playing cards, darts, and doing basic life things. It's a great thing to do to practice math without a pencil and paper--just ask kids to figure things out mentally. I love giving kids math challenges in the car or while we're getting dinner ready. Doing this makes math fun and gives kids meaningful practice they need to be successful in school.
Here are the skills that are the fluency skills that are focused on in each grade (this is only 1 of the math standards):
5K: Adding and subtracting within 5 (knowing automatically that 3 and 2 make 5), and adding within 10 with fingers or objects. Ask kids things like, "If we had 3 apples and needed 5, how many more do we need?'
1st grade: Adding and subtracting within 10 by heart, and within 20 easily, and then adding and subtracting 10 to any number within 100. Ask kids what's 6 +4, etc. After they're good there, try stringing things together. What's 6 + 2 + 2? Build up for all sets through 20! Try Shut the Box. It's great for 10s facts!
2nd grade: Adding and subtracting within 20 nearly by heart, and by 10s within 100 easily. Kids here love challenges. What's 6 + 6 -2 -5? What's 20 + 50?
3rd grade: Multiplying and dividing facts 1-10. 5 cars, how many wheels? 10 bikes. How many wheels? What's 7x3? OK--we have 30 cookies and 5 people in our family. How many do we each get?
4th grade: Multiplying and dividing facts 1-12. After they get their basic facts, move onto challenges (see 5th grade).
5th grade: Students should know all their facts; they should be using them to solve problems with large numbers. 5x5 x 2 divided by 10. Have fun with it!
