What fun ways do you use to teach your first grader (6+) basic math skills ?

Answer 1

When my son was that age, we would play math games while driving down the road...after a 10 or so easy questions, I would give him a dime or quarter if he answered a harder one correctly. Then if he got enough correct, I would take him for Ice Cream and let him buy his own. It made him feel smart and made him feel like a big guy being able to pay for his own treat.

Answer 2

Just try to use numbers wherever you find them and try to find numbers everywhere. If you take stock of your daily life, the there is opportunity everywhere.

Go shopping....."how much will it cost for 2 of these?" "Which is better value?" (great for both maths and reasoning)

Play board games, card games etc....they all use number skills

Cook together - recipes use numbers in the form of weights and measures...you can even fit some science in there!

Do tests on each other....you can't expect a child to learn what you don't know yourself (not saying you can't do math!.....but just imagine how your child would feel if they beat you in a test.....keep them working at it then give them a chance to shine.....they will have such confidence and improved self-esteem and want to carry on learning more and more to keep that feeling alive!)

Finding ways to keep a child invigorated in learning is an ongoing task, and not an easy one! You are obviously a committed parent/carer/teacher and your enthusiasm and commitment to teaching is the best path to learning.

I wish you both all the best!

Answer 3

Best way is to make platters of crackers and veggies and count them out as you put them on and add and subtract using the ingred. Make the platters for her and you to enjoy together for lunch or snack or whatever. This way you will have plenty of mommy and me time and she will learn something along the way.

Answer 4

use treats. like cookies, chips, bubblegum. with my daughter it was cookies. for example put 6 cookies on the table between the two of you and say there are 6 cookies there. if you ate one and i did how many would be left. give them time to think about it (and if they don't get it right, give them one and you take one and eat it and ask her what is left.) if they get it right, then eat them as a treat for being so smart. praises and rewards are the best for them to like something and want to do it. just remember don't get upset with them if they get it wrong. support them and praise them as much as you can. hope this helps out.

Answer 5

hi, my kids and i used anything from toothpicks, to popsicle sticks; from dry beans, to pennies, and bingo chips for basic math skills.
when we were out shopping we used the grocery items as well.
i also did up poster boards for over their desks. one showing simple addition, one showing simple subtraction.
once they started multipication in school i did up poster boards showing the multipication tables up to 20x12.
the multipication tables stayed up on the wall over their desks until they graduated from high school. they were always handy for those 'no brain' days, and for when my neighbor's younger kids were visiting.
our kids did very well in school - partly due to the fact that we put the time and effort into helping them. sounds like your kids are going to do well too!
good luck and have fun with them!

Answer 6

Lollies, or food
its the best motivator for any child

Answer 7

Work it into daily activities.
When you go shopping just ask him simple math problems that he can visualize.

Answer 8

make her add/subtract or even count some of her favorite candy or snacks (oreos, jelly beans, skittles) and if she gets it right, she gets to eat the candy.

Answer 9

Play YAHTZEE! with them. They have to add the dice every turn--it's a GREAT tool!

Answer 10

I let her get involved in paying when we get treats or things when shopping.