Teachers hope families will do a little math, reading, and writing with their children this summer. When children master math facts they become so much faster at mental math and doing word problems. Daily summer practice for ten minutes will help children the rest of the year.

Try these math fact tricks. Start by adding one and two to numbers one through ten. They are simply counting the next two numbers.

Next help children to memorize doubles. Make up a song or say them to a beat together on the way to soccer or running errands 1+1 = 2, 2+2 =4, 3+3=6, 6+6=12.

Why are these so important? Some of the most troublesome addition math facts are one up or one down from a double. 3+2 or 3+4 plague children.

However, if they have memorized 3+3, they can reach the troublesome 3+2 using a strategy by quickly subtracting one from the double. They can reach that other culprit 3+4 by saying 3+3=6 and adding one in their head.

Teach Strategies

Help children have strategies to solve math fact troubles. It cuts down the time they spend on math homework, allows them to spend more time on practical and challenging word problems, and gives them math confidence.

Use addition to learn subtraction. To learn subtraction facts like 10-6, start with 6 and count 4 fingers to get to 10. Fingers and pennies are good for checking and practice.

Practice no more than five new math facts at time. Keep the facts few and the time short.

Practice should be cumulative. When practicing new facts, mix in a few old facts to boost confidence and aid overlearning.

Children should say the entire math fact out loud. 10-6=4. Children will remember the whole verbal chain. Practice the chain in a silly, deep football player, princess, or squeaky voice.

Use math fact cards and make a pile of known facts and watch it grow.

Celebrate progress

Celebrate little successes. Do something special. Keep a practice chart with rewards.

Make learning fun. Practice with dice. Add numbers on the dice. Then roll one again and subtract it. Every correct answer can be worth a penny or more.

Use electronics for practice and motivation. There are many Applications and games for devices on-line. Search for “math fact practice” and “multiplication table tricks”.

Give children practice taking math fact tests that look like school tests. Start with ten problem tests and work up to fifty. Then children will not be so nervous during the real thing.

Family members are the first and most effective teachers, but a summer babysitter can be taught the same techniques. For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and podcasts.

Editor’s note: Grandparents Teach, Too is a non-profit organization of elementary and preschool teachers from Marquette, Michigan. Writers include: Jan Sabin, Mary Davis, Jean Hetrick, Cheryl Anderegg, Esther Macalady, Colleen Walker, Fran Darling, and Iris Katers.Their mission since 2009 is to help parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of young children provide fun activities to help prepare young children for school and a life long love of learning. They are supported by Great Start, Parent Awareness of Michigan, Upper Peninsula Association for the Education of Young Children, Northern Michigan School of Education, U.P. Children’s Museum and NMU Center for Economic Education.