Math homework for my students

I'm writing this note to update parents about my plans for math homework until Christmas break. There won't be any! We will continue to work hard during class, and students will continue to work toward meeting daily goals. However, I won't be assigning work in the blue and pink books that students usually complete outside of class. With all we have to do to prepare for Christmas, I thought a short break would be nice for everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to jot a note to say happy Thanksgiving to my St. Jacobi family. I am truly blessed. Thank you for sharing your children with me. I wish you all God's blessings this Thanksgiving.

Pinch, flip, tuck

Does your child hold a pencil correctly? Take a quick look at how your kids hold their pencils. Does your child use a standard pencil grip?

The pencil should be pinched between the thumb and index finger. It should rest on the middle finger, with the ring and pinky fingers tucked below. The top of the pencil should rest on the meaty part of the hand between the index finger and thumb.

Does it really matter? Yes. It does matter. Some of our students have the bad habit of holding their pencils on their ring fingers. The fourth finger does not have the same range of motion as the middle finger. Kids (and adults for that matter) who hold the pencil on the fourth finger tend get hand cramps more often than people who hold the pencil correctly. Kids who hold pencils incorrectly tend to take fewer notes and often have trouble keeping up with classroom note-taking. Also, because the third finger is more mobile than the fourth, it is better suited for fluid writing, like cursive.

Isn't penmanship becoming obsolete? It is true that our children are using computers for more of their writing assignments, but some tasks, like math, will probably continue to be paper and pencil tasks. Essays, reports, and formal writing are generally done on the keyboard especially in the upper grades and in high school, but class notes, study guides, and note cards are often hand written. Kids who hold pencils correctly have an easier time with these activities.

How can parents help? Let's go back to the beginning. Look at how your child (or children) hold a pencil. If he or she uses an incorrect grip, try the following method: pinch, flip, tuck.

Pinch.

Flip.

Tuck.

Be warned. Your child will probably complain and say that this new way feels uncomfortable. That's OK. New things feel weird until we get used to them. Just ask Tiger Woods. A few years back, he changed his golf swing. If felt weird. He didn't do as well for awhile, but after the adjustment period, he seems to be doing quite well. If Tiger can change his swing, we can work as a team to change your child's pencil grip.

True Confessions of a Bad Mom

OK. Confession time. For two years, Mrs. Spaude has been assigning music flash cards for Simon to practice, and for two years, we seem to run out to time or "forget" to go through his stack of notes. Simon has many talents; unfortunately, note reading is not one of them. Frustration has set in. Tears have been shed. Threats have been made. Until quite recently, piano practicing time has been rather unpleasant at the Lippert house.

"Until recently?" you ask. What changed?

A few weeks ago, we found a music flash card web site. (musicards.net) It's nothing fancy. Instead of flipping a paper card--OK, another confession; we lost most of our cards--, Simon runs the cursor arrow over a card on the computer screen, and the note name appears. That's really all flash cards are. The child looks at a musical note, (or a math fact, or a social studies vocabulary word) states the note name, (or the math answer, or the word's definition) and is instantly informed that their answer was correct (hooray) or incorrect (don't worry--here's the right answer.) This process is repeated until the child can correctly identify each note (or math answer, or word definition.)

For years I've been preaching about flash cards. Flash cards help kids remember facts. They really do. When Simon was in first grade, we faithfully practiced the math cards that Mrs. Tellier sent home. We practiced them in the car. We quizzed over dinner. I suspect that our dog could pass a test on the doubles and the doubles plus one. When Charlie was in grade school, I was the Flash Card Queen! We had cards for every subject in every room of the house. As a high school student, Charlie makes his own flash cards to learn different chess openings. Nerdy? Yes, but also effective.

Why on earth did we not practice Simon's music cards? To be honest, I have no idea. The good news is that he now practices regularly, his playing has improved, (just ask Mrs. Spaude)and practice time is much more peaceful. ("Hey Mom. I sorta liked practicing my songs this week."--No kidding. he really said that!)

Why on earth am I sharing all of this with you? I'm testifying about the power of the flash card! Are your kids struggling to read music notes? Do your kids use their fingers to count up and down for math facts? Do your kids have any tests coming up? Flash cards will help. You can make your own, (really, your kids should make them) buy them, or find them free online. Whichever you choose, don't delay. Get those cards and start practicing!

Want to help your kids do better at math?

One simple way for parents to help their children be more successful at math is to practice math facts with them each day for a few minutes. Fairly easy, right? When kids know --really know their math facts--no counting up or down, kids are free to focus on the concept they're learning--not each individual fact.

Think about it. If your child has to solve a 3-digit plus a 3-digit number problem and he doesn't have automatic command of basic math facts, he has to count up for the one's place, for the ten's place, and again for the hundred's place. That's 3 opportunities for him to make a mistake, and when children don't know their facts, mistakes are harder for kids to find. They have to re-count the whole problem.

As math gets more complicated, not knowing math facts creates more trouble. Think about all the steps involved in long multiplication. If your child doesn't know the multiplication and addition facts, she'll have to count up for each step.

Don't even get me started on fractions. When kids don't know multiplication and division facts, reducing fractions and finding common denominators can be truly frustrating.

How much time is your child spending on math each evening? When you look at corrected papers, do you notice lots of mistakes? Often, this can be attributed to kids not knowing math facts.

I've found that the best way for kids to learn facts is to practice for a short time each day. Five minutes is enough, as long as you make a habit of practicing each day. You can't wait for the weekend and practice for an hour. Our brains learn best when they learn and practice skills in little bits.

The key for practicing facts is that kids have to know the answer fast. If your child has to count up, he doesn't really know the fact. When this happens, tell your child the answer, have your child repeat the answer, and then put the card in the "try again" pile.

What about games and computer practices? Many of these are great, but keep in mind, these games are basically flash cards. My advice, check for free games online. One that I like is on softschools.com. That site has several fact practice games, and you don't have to enter any information about your child in order to play. Just go to the site and play--no passwords or anything. I've tested the site with several of the kids in my math classes. They're a hit!

Another alternative to flash cards is a Math Shark. I have several in my room and would be happy to loan one to you. Stop by if you'd like to borrow one. Keep it in the car and practice on the way to school in the morning. Your five minutes will be done before you get to the parking lot (unless you're a Spaude!)

Enough. I'm down from my soap box. I've gotta go run through a short stack of addition cards with my kid.