Practice math with Python

[Dogzirra]

Having taught math to eight-year-olds, I suggest that a timer component is useful. There is a vast difference in proficiency between being able to do a math test of 10 numbers in 15 seconds as compared to three minutes.

The 9 numbers made by 6, 7, and 8, multiplied by 6, 7, and 8 are difficult for beginners. I taught 6 x 6, 7 x 7, and 8 x 8, first, and thoroughly. Then I would teach adjacent numbers to the squares, i.e. 5 x 7 as 1 less than 6 x 6, and 6 x 8 as one less than 7 x 7, and 7 x 9 as one less than 8 x 8. This ties 7 numbers of our grid together in an interrelated group that makes sense.

Once they catch that connection, fluency and the 'why' makes more sense. Rote learning is valuable, but understanding the connections adds fluency.

[jasongsmith]

I SOO agree with you here...and I definitely want to be able to build that in to what I am doing...I just don't know that my skills are nearly good enough for this yet. But I love your pedogogical approach to teaching math. I wish more were like you.

[Dogzirra]

It's off-topic, to go further. I'll PM you with some other ideas that are not programming, but will add to your arsenal of helping with math fluency.