Multiplication Fact Practice Letter

I will be sending this letter home tomorrow, but I thought I'd post it up here in case it gets lost at any point.

Dear Families,

One goal of the Everyday Mathematics Program is that each child develop “automaticity” (recalling fact answers automatically) in math fact knowledge.  Knowing the basic number facts is as important to learning mathematics as knowing words by sight is to reading. 

This year we will be working on learning our basic multiplication facts through 12 x 12.  We are going to work hard to memorize these facts.  To check our memorization of the facts, we will be taking timed tests.

Your child could really use your help at home.  Every two weeks your child will be working on learning a new set of facts.  We will start with the one times table and continue up to the twelve times table.  They will take home a fact study sheet two weeks before the test.  Every other Wednesday, your child will take a fact test to try to demonstrate their automaticity of the selected facts.  They will have 45 seconds to complete the test.

The fact test dates are listed on the back of this letter.

As an incentive, children will earn the following rewards:

1.        Each time a child passes a test on Wednesday they will receive a homework pass (can be used on ONE homework sheet of their choice).

2.        If a child does not pass the test on Wednesday, they will get a second chance on the following Wednesday, however, they will not receive a homework pass.

3.       If a child does not pass the test on both days, they will still continue on to the next set of facts.

Of course, we will continue working on other math concepts as we memorize our facts.  Some of these include geometry, decimals, fractions, measurement, and probability.

I know the children will be motivated to practice the facts.  Please be patient with your child if this is difficult for him/her and try to make a game out of it.  Thank you for giving your child “fact power!”

Fondly,

Elizabeth Henneberry

FACT TEST SCHEDULE

(mark your calendars)

X 1: DEC. 5, 12

X 2: DEC.19, Jan.2

X 3: JAN. 9,16

X 4: JAN.23, Jan. 30

X 5: FEB. 6,13

X 6: FEB.27, March 6

X 7: MAR.13,20

X 8: MAR. 27,APR. 3

X 9: APR. 10,24

X 10: MAY 1,8

X 11: MAY 15,22

X 12: MAY 29, June 5