Math Facts Fluency!

This year I'm using a new approach to teaching math facts to my 1st graders.  See this post.

The first skill we worked on was being able to add 1 and 2 to a number (up to 20).  I needed some flash cards to use for independent practice, so I made a set that included each math fact, the "flip flop fact" (commutative property), and also some facts with missing numbers in every position.  For instance:

7+1=?

1+7=?

7+?=8

?+1=8

1+?=8

?+7=8

I printed them out, laminated them, cut them, and put them in my "math choice" bin for students to select when they are done with their math centers. 

Let me tell you, my students practically fight over these.  They LOVE THEM!  I think they love the challenge of making all the matches before it's time to clean up, but I also think they love to sprawl out on the floor and take up a lot of room with them.  They love to come get me and have me come over to see what they've done.

 

You can purchase Set 1 - Add +1 and +2 here.

 

Since the first set was so highly motivating, I made another set, this time with subtraction (minus 1 and minus 2).  I changed the color so that if any cards were not put away properly, we could easily tell which baggie it belongs in.  In fact, every new Math Facts Cards set I've made is a different color/pattern just for this purpose.  I now have at least 6 sets of cards out for students to use and they are all different colors.  Easy peasy if a card is found.

 You can purchase Set 2 - Subtraction -1 and -2 here.

 

 

 

I just completed making all 8 sets of Math Facts Cards, which cover all the math facts up to 20.  Each set covers a different skill.  You can pick and choose the sets you need, purchase them individually, or purchase the BUNDLE at a discounted price.  (The bundled price is like getting 2 of the sets for free!)

 

 

 

Pick up a set or two, or dive in and get the bundle.  You won't be sorry.  I cannot keep my students from using these sets over and over again.  Each time we begin a new skill and I bring out a new set of Math Facts Cards in a new color, the kids get very excited and they all can't wait to get their hands on them.

 

And here's the most important part... I have seen a huge improvement in their math facts fluency!  Woo hoo!  I'm seeing 95% of my students able to master their timed tests at the end of each skill study.

 

By the way, even though my students love to just lay out the cards on the floor and match them up, you can also use these cards to play concentration or go fish, or simply use them as flash cards the old fashioned way!  I'd love to hear how you use them.

Math Fluency Bingo!

For the past couple of weeks, we've been working on +1 and +2 facts in my classroom.  I highly recommend this book, Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction!

 

 

We began by doing a math investigation about mice in a jar, as the book recommends.  Partners worked to count the mice in their jar (or, in our case, their baggie!) and then wrote a number sentence to show how many mice they would have if they added one more, and then two more.  They drew pictures and we put these in our math notebooks.

Next, we made an anchor chart to record all the different plus one and plus two number sentences we made and we noticed the patterns.

After doing the investigation, I made up some bingo games for the kids to practice.  You can find them here:

Plus One, Plus Two, Minus One, Minus Two:  Addition & Subtraction Fluency Bingo Games

We've been practicing for a couple of weeks during guided math.  "Math Facts" is one of four stations my kiddos rotate to.  We concluded our study of +1 and +2 by taking a one-minute fact check each day for a week.  I have to say my kids did extremely well on these.  In the past, our school used a program where kids in your class might all be on a different level and learning different facts.  I am really liking how this program slows the process down and my whole class is working on learning one set of facts at a time.

Next up, we will focus on -1 and -2!  My bingo game set includes bingo games to help us practice subtraction, too!

New!  I just posted this in my TPT shop today!

Plus One, Plus Two, Minus One, Minus Two:  Addition & Subtraction Fluency Bingo Games

+1, -1, +2, -2 Bingo games will help your students become fluent in math facts. 

Adding and subtracting by one is an important number sense skill in developing beginning math fact fluency in our young mathematicians. The idea of starting with a number and counting on or counting back is an important developmental concept. This packet was developed with my own students in mind as they began to develop this concept and needed practice to help develop fluency.

Also included are bingo games for adding on and counting back by two, which is the next step after students develop an understanding of +1/-1.

Included in this packet:
Number Cards
4 Bingo Boards for each concept (+1, -1, +2, -2)
Number Lines

I included number lines to help students as they work. If you laminate them, students can use dry erase markers to practice making jumps.

Black line masters are included so that you can print on colored paper if you'd rather save on colored ink.

Check it out here! 
Plus One, Plus Two, Minus One, Minus Two:  Addition & Subtraction Fluency Bingo Games
I'm introducing it soon in my own classroom, so stay tuned for photos of this product in use!

Thanks for stopping by!

Making Ten!

My 1st graders have been LOVING playing Cover Up!  It's one of the games included in my Make Ten! Addition Fluency Cards & Games packet.

Students choose a card and then determine the number which needs to be added to it to make ten.  Then, they place a marker on their board.  Their partner takes a turn and does the same.  Play continues until one player has covered up all of the numbers on their board.

This game is simple to prep, comes in blackline masters so that you can save on colored ink if you prefer.  It can be a math center or, as I use it in my class, a "math choice" for early finishers.

My kids are loving the little bit of competitiveness a game provides and choose this to play with their math partners over and over again.  That's a good thing!

To see this game, and other games to practice making ten, click on the link below.



Make Ten! Addition Fluency Cards & Games

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