I was told that there is a series of books which teach math facts using the left side of the brain. Addition and Subtraction Made Easy..also multiplication/Division series…. Rote memorization is hard for my child.. maybe spring hill? spring creek? press… Does anyone know where to get these? Has anyone used these???
Re: Addition and Subtraction Made Easy
You can find Math Facts the Fun Way at http://www.citycreek.com .
Nancy
Re: Addition and Subtraction Made Easy
Actually, left brain is the rote memory side of the brain — t he symbol processing and all that. Right brain is more the “visual-spatial.”
I do have some info about learnign facts in logical order — it’s also an approach designed to build understanding of the number concepts, which in my humble opinion is more valuable in the long run than having a clever story to help you remember the rote fact.
The big advantage of the clever story is that it brings in visual and concrete — and helps cut down on the pure frustration. However, for the student who *really* struggles with rote memorization, there are still an awful lot of unrelated stories to remember! (On the third hand, seems regardless of approach, there are a few “toughies” — and I’ll pull any trick out of my sleeve to get those last ones.)
http://www.resourceroom.net/math has links to times tables practice and some right-brain strategies for learning them.
This right left side of the brain thing is way way over done. But using visualization will help. In that case I’d recommend On Cloud Nine by Lindamood Bell. You just need the manual and unifix blocks and perhaps the no. line (I made mine but it isn’t entirely satisfactory.) It’s very user friendly, though not a complete math program by itself.
I think Sue indicate her site has info on learning various math facts in logical order.
Basically something like this makes sense. You teach 0+? as that is really simple. (Kid must grasp 0). Then 1+?. And 2+?. Facts up to 10 tend to be fairly easily visualized/learned (maybe most difficult are 6s, 7s). 10+?
is a snap. . Doubling is great to do, so you teach the 1+1, 2+2, etc. And then do doubles +1. There are a couple tricks for 9 and 8. I figured it out and that leaves you with 7+4 and 7+5. My student figured out her own trick for that, something like 7+3 is 10 and 1 more is 11 and 2 more is 12. She did this on her own after doing work on it in OCN.
You need some type of manipulative and I have had her do EVERYTHING first using them. Doing them in order is also very useful to show patterns. I recall the time my current student realized a pattern in counting by 5s.
Very cool thing.
—des