17 Ways to Teach Learners to Solve Math Problems That Require Math Facts

Are you looking for ways to teach students to solve math problems that require math facts? If so, keep reading.

1. Give practice of math facts using an app or a hand-held educational device that gives instant feedback to the student.

2. Give the student many concrete experiences to help learn and remember math facts. Utilize popsicle sticks, tongue depressors, paper clips, buttons, etc., to form groupings to teach math facts.

3. Using the tracking method to help the student learn math facts, present a few facts at a time. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of facts, the student must memorize.

4. Daily, examine those skills, ideas, tasks, etc., that have been previously introduced.

5. Praise the student for improving retention of math facts: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

6. Make the student practice facts at home with flash cards, computer programs, or hand-held games.

7. Play class games to reinforce math facts (e.g., Bingo, Jeopardy, teacher-made games, etc.).

8. Teach the student that subtraction facts are the inverse of addition facts. The same concept holds true for multiplication and division.

9. Utilize daily drill learning activities to help the student memorize math facts (e.g., written problems, flash cards, etc.).

10. Utilize fingers to teach the student to form addition and subtraction combinations. Get the student to hold up fingers and add or subtract other fingers to find the correct answer.

11. Do not require the student to learn more information than they are capable of learning at any time.

12. Utilize manipulative objects (e.g., peg board, abacus, base ten blocks, etc.) to give a visual image when teaching the student basic math facts.

13. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Competitive learning activities may cause the student to hurry and make mistakes when solving math problems.

14. Consider using Alexa for the Math Classroom.

15. Try gamifying your math lessons.

16. Consider using one of the apps and tools from our many math app lists:

9 Must-Have Apps and Tools for Kids Who Hate Math

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20 Math Apps for Learners of All Ages

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YouTube Channels for the Math Classroom

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