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

Multiplication Tricks For 6x6 to 10x10

Many people know about the 9's trick with your hands; however, I've never seen a good trick for the 6s, 7s, or 8s (other than for 6 and 8 you can half the factor and then double the product: instead of 6x4 you can do 3x4 and double it).

This summer I stumbled upon this British man who came up with a trick to figuring out the products of factors 6x6 to 10x10 using his hands!  It's a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it you'll be happy you practiced!  This doesn't mean you shouldn't still memorize your facts (it's much faster to know them then to do this trick), but it's a good way to learn your facts!

Please get permission to go to this YouTube video before clicking on it: 6x6 to 10x10 Hand Trick - YouTube

Unit 2 and 3 - Addition & Subtraction

Need a little help practicing your addition and subtraction facts or with bigger addition/subtraction problems?  Try one of these websites to help practice those skills!


Math Mayhem is a website where you can practice you math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) against other people on the web.  You can input your first name or leave it as guest.  It's a race of the clock to answer as many problems as you can in that time.  At the end you'll see your score compared to others who played at the same time.  It's a lot of fun!  Try it out by clicking here!


"Math Baseball" is a game that Everyday Math has as well as the great website, FunBrain.  Here you can play the game at home, by yourself! You can choose addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.  For each right answer you get you a hit.  FunBrain will decide if that hit is a single, double, triple, or home run.  If you get an answer wrong then you get an out.  Just like in baseball, three outs and the inning (game) is over.  Try "Math Baseball" here!


If you need a visual for numbers, try using virtual base ten blocks!  Your job is to drag base ten block pieces (cubes, rods, and flats) to create numbers.  Hands at the bottom will clap and you'll hear cheers if you get it correct!  It's a good way to practice what digits in a number mean! Practice using base ten blocks here!


Is rounding hard/confusing for you?  Here is a site where you can play the "Sea Shell Rounding" activity.  Make the numbers that end in 1 through 4 into the next lower number that ends in 0. For example 84 rounded to the nearest ten would be 80. Numbers that end in a digit of 5 or more should be rounded up to the next ten. The number 58 rounded to the nearest ten would be 60.  Look at the number on each shell. Click on the nearest ten. Collect a sand dollar each time you choose the correct answer!  Try it by clicking here!

Time - Topic 12

One of the hardest things for most 3rd graders is telling time.  Since many people no longer wear watches with faces (not digital) we might need a little more practice using a clock.  This site allows you to see a clock with real time where you can add/delete time and it has a digital clock next to it that you can see or hide to help check your work.  It's really neat!  Click here to practice using a clock!
Also: Time Matching Game and  Telling Time Basketball Game

Time to the Minute (and the worksheet)
Printable clocks for at home practice
Time Keeper - fuelthebrain.com
Time Tunnel -fuelthebrain.com  Warning: this may cause some to get dizzy
Brainpop

Elapsed Time
How to Use a Open Number line for Elapsed Time

What Time Will It Be?
Math Maven's Mysteries - Elapsed Time Crime Solving 
Elapsed Time Quiz 

Fractions

Are fractions giving you a headache?  Have no fear... Mrs. Henneberry is here!

A video lesson on fractions: turtlediary.com: Fractions

Here are some great website for fraction help and fraction review (and they are fun too!)


http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/ff/index.asp

http://www.coolmath4kids.com/fractions/fractions-04-equivalent-01.html  (this site does have ads)

Fraction Strips

Scale Fractions


Illuminations - Equivalent Fractions

Fresh Baked Equivalent Fractions - Funbrain

Tony Fraction's Pizza Shop 

Clara Fraction's Ice Cream Shop 

Fraction Monkeys

Triplets- Equivalent Fractions Game


Pattern Block Fractions

Pattern Block Print out (for home use)

Math Vocabulary

Room 13 is working hard to continue to add to our vocabulary notebooks!  One of the sections we've been starting to fill in lately is our math vocabulary.

We've started unit 6 on Geometry which brings us wonderful new (and old) vocabulary terms such as: parallel, perpendicular, line, line segment, ray, angle, right angle, vertex, etc.

To help your child at home with vocabulary, I've included a link below to what will soon be on our new math world wall in the classroom! It has lots of math vocabulary words that have some illustration with the name that gives its definition.  This can be a fun and visual way for students to learn what all these fantastic new words mean!

Not all of these words are specific to 3rd grade nor are all of these words we've encountered so far.  However, I think they are just too good to not look at! I hope you feel the same way.

The Mathematics Word Wall was developed by Michele S. Weiner, Regional Center II Instructional Supervisor.

http://www.sanchezclass.com/curriculum/Mathematics%20Word%20Wall%20visual.pdf

Decimal Links

Singing the decimal blues?  Look at the links below for helpful hints and games to help you with your knowledge of decimals.

BBC - Decimal Help and Games
Comparing Decimal Games

For the following websites, go to the box where it says, "Learn More" and try the "Personal Tutor" videos that explain how to do problems involving decimals/fractions.

Math Connects - Understanding Tenths
Math Connects - Problem Solving - Working Backwards- Decimals

Place Value Review Links

Understanding and comparing place value can be tough!

Below are some links to some free website resources from a math program called Math Connects.   Here you can see a teacher show you virtual examples of how to understand place value.  Just click on the "Personal Tutor" or other "Learn More" videos.  There are also games located on these pages that can be a fun way to practice!

Place Value Through the 1,000s

Solving Word Problems with Place Value

Ordering Numbers

Rounding Numbers

Place Value Football - For every received pass, you must answer a place value question, get enough passes before the time runs out or the game is over!
Place Value Millionaire - like the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game show without the real money.
Mrs. Santillana's  Place Value Games  - A blog that has many different types of place value games.

Estimation

Estimate to large numbers with this fun game with monkeys in elevators! http://mrnussbaum.com/capacity/