Frequent Practice of Basic Computation Skills
Helping children learn the basic facts is an important goal in the Everyday Mathematics curriculum. Most children should have developed an automatic recall of the basic addition and subtraction facts by the end of the second grade. They should also know most of their 1, 2, 5, and 10 multiplication facts by this time. By the end of the third grade most students should have an automatic recall of all the basic multiplication facts and be familiar with the basic division facts. Multiplication and division facts are reinforced at the beginning of fourth grade.
Developing Basic Fact Power
The Everyday Mathematics curriculum employs a variety of techniques and contexts to help children develop their "fact power", or basic number-fact reflexes.
Practice through Games
The curriculum has a wide variety of fact-practice games. Children find these games much more engaging than standard drill exercises, so they are willing to spend more time practicing their basic facts. For more information on games, please visit our sample games page.
Choral Drills and Mental Math Exercises
Beginning in first grade, short oral drills are suggested for fact review. In third through sixth grades, basic fact power is reinforced in routine mental math exercises called Mental Math and Reflexes.
Fact Extension Practice
Fact extensions are calculations made with larger numbers using knowledge of basic facts. If children know that 3 + 4 = 7, then they also know that 30 + 40 = 70, and 300 + 400 = 700. Children are introduced to fact extensions in first grade and are encouraged to practice them throughout the program.
Fact Triangles
Fact Triangles are Everyday Mathematics' version of flash cards. But Fact Triangles are more effective than flash cards because they help children learn fact families rather than isolated facts. Partner practice with Addition/Subtraction Fact Triangles begins in first grade. Multiplication/Division Fact Triangles are introduced in second grade.
Frames and Arrows Diagrams
These diagrams are visual representations of rule-based sequences of numbers. Variations of these diagrams are used routinely from first through third grades. The challenge of filling in the blank frames involves lots of practice with basic facts.
Home and Study Links
Home Link homework assignments are included with every lesson and have many opportunities for basic fact practice built-into the suggested activities.
What's My Rule? Function Machines
Variations of these function machines are used routinely from kindergarten through sixth grade, and provide another avenue for basic fact practice.
Home and Study Links
Home Link homework assignments are included with every lesson and have many opportunities for basic fact practice built-into the suggested activities.
