Math Facts
Whether balancing a checkbook or following a recipe, math facts are a part of life. Calculators offer help, but a basic knowledge of math is as important as knowing how to read. Without it, life success will be compromised.
Breaking Down the Facts
First, choose the operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division). Talk to your child's teacher to help you decide where to begin. Even though your daughter is in the fifth grade, she may not have mastered the addition facts.
Next, plan which facts to study. Quizzing your child on all of the addition facts to start with can be overwhelming. Begin with all the “plus one” facts (2+1, 3+1, 4+1, etc.). When your child masters those, practice the “plus two” facts. Then practice both sets together. Continue to include the next group of facts. This will take time.
Essential
An accommodation can help a child who is having difficulty remembering the facts, but is ready for more difficult math concepts. A fifth grader may struggle to remember multiplication facts, but she may understand that the area of a rectangle is found by multiplying length by width. Her IEP might include an accommodation to use a calculator or multiplication chart.
Remembering Math Facts
A child with a learning disability can take a long time to master math facts. Truthfully, some children may never memorize them. Others (such as some children with Asperger's syndrome) may memorize them with little effort. Still others will memorize them by learning them in a song. Learning math facts happens over time. Patience, persistence, and a plan to study the facts in order are key.
