Are you tempted (or did you already) purchase a "workbook" to torture (I mean help) them practice math over the summer?
Have you ever considered a more active approach to summer math?
In this post I will share a few of the MANY cool resources available for families. I'll share the ones I actually use to confirm their value :)
Games.
Games are an amazing way to practice speed and repetition without it feeling like slow torture. Plus, they encourage family quality time...something we all want. Here are a few of my favorites:
1) Sum Swamp - Ages (4-12)
Sum Swamp is a simple but engaging game. Kids like games with twists. This one has lots of little twists. The idea is simple. Kids roll 3 dice. Two have the numbers 1-6, the third has a + or a - on the sides. However, there are lots of bumps along the way. I play this with my 5 and 7 year old regularly. They love it! I make them say the math fact and answer out loud to aid memory.
Think this is too easy for your 10 year old? Nope! One of the things I found year after year as a middle school teacher is that kids entering middle school didn't have their math facts down. They couldn't add, subtract, multiply or divide with any speed. This game works on speed - even for big kids! Think this is too difficult for your 3-4 year old? Nope! Grab something to count with (legos, toy cars, beans) and have them "act out" the addition or subtraction they roll. Help as they go!
Have more than 4 members of your family? No biggie - just add a game piece from another game or a coin!
2) Tri-FACT-A - Ages 6+
Tri-FACTa is a tad more challenging than Sum Swamp. My 5 year old still plays it easily. However, it is more challenging for her to win. Tri-FACTa is a math teacher's dream game. It practices math facts, but in a way that encourages flexibility. The addition/subtraction version is ideal for grades 1-5th. However, as an adult, I find the game to be fun as well.
*Tip: I put the extra game pieces in the top of the game to shake them around and keep them under control.
The coolest part of this game is that there is also an multiplication and division version! Score! If you have kids in grades 3 +, this version is ideal for your family. Kids TRULY don't get enough practice with multiplication and division facts. This is an easy solution :)
3) Challenge 24 Game - depends on version
There are almost endless levels of the 24 game. This is the easiest version, using addition and subtraction. This game is awesome in the classroom. The only challenge of this game is that the 2 players need to be relatively similar levels of ability. If you have 2 kids with very different abilities, I would play with them, instead of having them play each other. Otherwise the same kid will always win, which is rather frustrating. Browse around and find a Challenge 24 to fit your child's level. Check each box for the start age. This box says 6 and up. However, since my 5 year old knows how to add and subtract, she could do this easily. Always keep in mind whether your kid is on grade-level, below, or above.
4) Equate - Ages 6+
This is one of my favorite games to recommend to families with a variety of ages. You can take out the multiplication and division signs to make it easier, but there is also a Junior Tile set (an add-on) that you can purchase. Additionally, there is an advanced set of tiles that you can purchase to make it more challenging. This game is played like scrabble, but with math facts. This isn't a fast game, but it is a good game for a family setting.
A final note on games:
You can find a ton of different math games! Check out a learning store near you. Always check reviews online prior to buying a game, to see the pros and cons. Also, remember that games are supposed to be PRACTICE to help your kids be faster at math facts. Don't purchase a game that is too challenging for them. It should be easy, encouraging more speed. Trust me, if your 2nd grader plays a math game once or twice a week all summer, they will be more ready for 3rd grade than their peers. The perk of games is that they don't have to only be for summer time. Also, you are ENJOYING math alongside your kid. What family doesn't want more quality time together?
Multi-Sensory Tools.
1) Wrap-Ups
If there was one tool that I would encourage parents to purchase OVER a workbook, it would be Wrap-ups. This version is the addition version, but there are also subtraction, multiplication, division, pre-algebra, etc. There are lots of levels.
What is so great about wrap-ups?
Well, they are much prettier and more hands-on than a worksheet, and reusable. That's the short answer.
Wrap-ups are just big plastic keys that show kids a series of math problems. They solve the math problem and wrap the string around to the side where the answer is located. Then they move to the next problem on the left. They keep working until they are finished. Then, the flip the key over to see if the answers are correct. Kids can do this completely alone. There is no need for adult "checking". Also, using multiply senses at once really helps kids retain their facts.
I like to have my kids time themselves and write down their time. Then, the next time they do the same fact, they try to beat that time! Use a chart to help them.
2) Clever Catch
My 7 year old likes to....move....a lot. I'm always finding tools that help her to move and do school work at the same time. I actually used clever catches in middle school, but was excited to find that they have them even for K-2 addition! A clever catch is simply a blow-up beach ball with math facts all over it. Throw it to one of your kids. Wherever their left thumb lands, they say that fact out loud and answer it. Then they throw it to someone else. It's that simple! Don't want to pay $12 for it? Grab a beach ball at the dollar store and use a sharpie to make your own!
That's all folks!
As I was sitting here this morning playing Sum Swamp with my girls, I realized that there are parents everywhere this summer who are simply buying workbooks for their kids, having to harass them to actually complete the workbook, and getting frustrated. All while there is fun to be had with math. The time you get to spend and laugh with your kids is the reward. Oh - and math. Math is always a reward ;) !
