Mastering Math Facts

Thanks to the positive feedback we received from both parents and teachers... "Math Fact Power Hours"are back!

Many parents asked us to launch a math initiative for first and second graders again this winter.  They found it motivated their children to spend more time at home practicing addition & subtraction facts.  This is so important, because research clearly indicates repeated practice with flash cards increases 'automaticity'- the ability to quickly and accurately recall answers.  Sweetsir and Donaghue teachers have noticed the students who spent time using the fact triangles last winter, developed greater automaticity.  As a result, they are more secure in their math skills and, even a year later, are demonstrating greater success.

On Thursday, January 24th, there will be a school-wide assembly for all first and second graders to kick-off this year's initiative. The six week incentive program was design to encourage children to practice with fact cards at home.  Each child will be given a math mat, set of triangle cards, and log.  For every 5 minutes spent practicing, they will record their time by coloring in a shape on the log.  After 60 minutes, the log is complete and should be brought back to school and exchange for a new log.   

Like last year, we will tally up all the power hours and graph each classrooms' results on our cafeteria wall.  Each week, the class with the most hours documented will be honored with a certificate and will have a group picture taken for our "Power Hour Wall of Fame."  This year, students who turn in logs will have an opportunity to enter a raffle and win games.  The more logs they complete, the better chance they have of winning!  Several names will be drawn each Monday for the next six weeks.   Highly motivated students could win more than once.

On the right is a picture of our prize table.  We selected games as a reminder to families that most board games are an excellent way to practice math skills (counting, sorting, 1:1 correspondence, etc.).  Funding for the prizes and triangle cards came from the company that takes our school pictures.  As a thank you, they give us a percentage of their profits each year.  That money goes into our activity fund, which is used for field trips and other fun events.  The prizes and fact cards are a gift for students to keep (first graders are encouraged to hold on to them for next year).

Parents of 1st and 2nd graders are encouraged to watch this video!

Last year, some of our students helped create the above video to give parents an overview of how to use the fact triangles and mat. Family members are encouraged to help their children practice.  To view blog postings with additional information, click on the 'math' label in the right hand column.  You will find another math video, photos of last year's gigantic graph on the cafeteria wall, and snapshots of students and teachers wearing crazy costumes. 

I hope to capture more special moments during this year's event, so be sure to check this blog again soon.

Preschool Mathematicians

Mrs. Patty DiStefano with a preschool

Preschoolers in Ms. Patty DiStefano's class have been graphing all types of data.  They then use "math vocabulary" to discuss their observations.

In this picture, a preschooler is placing acorn symbols on a graph; his classmates also had a turn to show their data on the graph.  After reading the book Busy Squirrel, students broke into small groups and 'hunted' for acorns hidden around the room. The students then counted the acorns, and graphed how many they had collected.  Ms. Patty facilitated a discussion comparing the amounts.  (This is an example of how teachers effectively use time by combining literacy, social studies, and math all in one lesson).

Preschoolers create a 'Snack Graph' everyday by placing their picture next to the food item they have chosen for snack.  Some days there are more choices, and the graph is larger.  After the data is displayed, Ms. Patty facilitates a discussion encouraging students to talk about what they see using math vocabulary.  "Are there more teddy grahams or goldfish?"  "Which snack has the least?"  "Are there fewer pretzels or goldfish?"  "Which snacks are equal?"  "Which snack did two people pick?"  Exposing students to math terms at this young age, builds a foundation for success in later years.  

Each session made a graph showing 
the number of  people in their family.  
Students are able to compare graphs and
see how each class is different.

The weather is recorded during each class session.
Students track and compare cloudy, sunny, rainy and
snowy days throughout the year.

Family Game Night

Game Night was a fun family evening!  Thanks to the PTO, children had a blast playing a variety of board games with their parents, siblings and friends.

I was impressed with the selection of games, most had received parent choice awards for their educational value.  Best of all, when I asked children what their favorite game was, most stated the one they were playing at the time.  As the event wrapped up, I overheard children saying they hoped there will be another game night.  Kudos to Mrs. Daneau, Mrs. Reynold, Mrs. Hadley, the Marden family and other PTO members who helped run this event.


The PTO plans to send home order forms to give families who were not able to attend an opportunity to order the games.  The PTO will receive 50% profit on all games purchased.

Pajama Day Celebration

Students loved wearing pajamas to school to celebrate their amazing efforts to learn math facts. Here are some of the moments I captured on Pajama Day...  

Pointing to their class on the 'Math Fact Power Hour' graph.

Thinking & collaborating in small groups.

Vision & hearing screenings with Nurse Lozier.

Playing "Guess the Verb".



Check out the PJs on these two Lucky Charms.



Dr. Mulqueen shaking hands with second graders.

Dr. Mulqueen, our future Superintendent, stopped by Sweetsir for a visit.  Although he does not officially begin working for Pentucket until July, he spent two days meeting with staff members across the district.  It was impressive that he took this time out of his busy schedule to ask our input about things that will help facilitate a smooth leadership transition.  

I love math!! It is my third favorite subject.

I received this letter from a second grade student.

Students' Fact Power Off the Chart!!

Sweetsir Students exceeded expectations by logging in so much time practicing math facts, they went off the chart!  As you can see from the graph on display in the cafeteria, each first and second grade class had substantial participation.  The second graders in Ms. Hitchcock's class logged in the most time.  Ms. Rowley's students came in second and showed the most overall class participation.  The picture below was take during the final week of  'Math Fact Power Hours', when Ms. Rowley's class earned a special visit from the 'Fact Triangles'.

To celebrate their efforts to master math facts, there will be several school-wide theme days.  On Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2nd, all students and staff members may come to school dressed as a favorite book character.  The following week there will be a 'Pajama Day'.

Ms. Rowley's class with Fact Triangles (Ms. Joyce and Ms. Grimes)

Thank you to Margaret Grimes, Title One math teacher, for helping organize this initiative to encourage practice of math facts.  Sweetsir teacher have already noticed an improvement in many students 'fact automaticity.'  The ability to quickly add and subtract numbers is essential for later academic success.  It is important students continue to practice facts at both school and home. As they move on to the Donaghue School, this should also include practice of multiplication and division facts.  Students were given passwords earlier in the year for the Everyday Math website which features games that align with our math curriculum.  It does not matter whether students use fact triangles, traditional flashcards, website games or other methods as long as they feel a sense of achievement.  Children will be more motivated to learn if they find it fun and rewarding.

Creative Math Instruction

Mrs. Grimes, Title One Math Teacher, created this number grid on the floor of her classroom.  

To help students develop number sense, she has them physically move from one number to another as they practice adding and subtracting.  On 'Stuffed Animal Day', students enjoyed having their favorite pals participate in the activity!  

Celebrating Math Fact Power

Parents, thank you for encouraging students in grades 1 & 2 to spend time practicing math facts!! On 2/6/12, we achieved our goal of completing 140 'Math Fact Power Hours' and spun the wheel for a school wide celebration!  "Bring a stuffed animal to school day" was a huge hit!  Penguins, teddy bears, puppy dogs and other favorite friends were seen peeking out of backpacks and sitting on desks. Since the incentive program will continue until February vacation we will have an opportunity to achieve our next goal and spin the wheel again.

The hours logged in by each 1st & 2nd grade classroom are represented on a graph displayed in the cafeteria.  This has promoted many in prompt to discussions about how to interpret data.  At the end of each week, we tally up the logs and recognize the class with the most hours.

Power Hour Graph

Ms. Hitchcock's second graders logged in the most hours two weeks in a row.  Ms. Hitchcock noticed an improvement in her students' ability to master math facts once the triangle flashcards went home.  At the beginning and end of every week she does a quick timed test of math facts.  The students in her class who have been practicing with cards at home saw a noticeable improvement in their score! Proof that practicing math facts helps with mastery!

Math Fact Power

On Wednesday, January 18th, students in grade 1 & 2 attended a school-wide assembly to kick off an exciting math initiative.  Two of our teachers dressed up as fact cards to amuse the audience and build excitement.  To help them master math facts, students received a set of triangle fact cards to take home and keep.  For the next month, they will be encouraged to keep track of time spent practicing with the cards.  We will tally up all the students "Math Power Hours"and tie them in with some fun school-wide celebrations!  Once we hit our first goal, 140 hours, we will spin the spinner and determine the type of celebration.  Then we will start adding up hours for the next goal.  

For tips on how to use the cards, check out these videos featuring some of second graders:

Mastering Math Facts

Developing an understanding of numbers and the ability to add and subtract with ease is essential during the early school years.  Children who do not master the ability to add and subtract quickly and accurately will struggle with math in later years.  Most children need ongoing practice to memorize facts, therefore, making it part of a home routine is important. 



This box of triangle math cards just arrived thanks to a generous contribution from the PTO!  Every student in first and second grade will receive a set to take home.  In January, we plan to roll out a school-wide incentive program to encourage children to practice their math facts.  Teachers will introduce the cards and show how to use them.  Then the minutes students spend practicing at home will be tracked by class and displayed on a school wide graph.  More details will be sent home with the cards in mid-January.

Triangle shape cards are more effective than the traditional flash cards because students learn to memorize 'fact families.'  Fact families are a set of three numbers that link addition and subtraction, or multiplication and division, together.  For example, the numbers 4,6,10 can be added or subtracted:  6+4=10, 4+6=10, 10-4=6, 10-6=4.  Presenting the numbers together helps students understand the relationship between adding and subtracting.  Each number is in a corner, allowing a finger to cover one of them while viewing the other two.  The student looks at the other members of the fact family and then guesses the covered number.  These triangle cards are also available for multiplication/division.  Parents of 3rd and 4th graders may want to consider purchasing a set which can be found online or at specialty learning stores.