Math Operations Practice with Math Squares

Every school age child needs to practice his or her math facts. We don’t believe in flash cards – instead we challenge our academically advanced math learner with a different way to practice her math facts – math squares.
This post was refreshed in June 2014 with new graphics and resource section.

Math Year 2013 in Review

It’s the end of the year, and I only have one math post on my blog – teaching preschoolers about money. This is certainly not because we don’t pay any attention to math. Just the opposite – I find math curriculum in Smarty’s school pathetic, and we do a lot to complement her math education at home. In this post, I want to share a challenge invented by my husband (well, at least it came from his mind and not from any book or blog) called “math squares”.

Why Math Squares Are Great?

1. They are different than a routine worksheet and make children look at math problems in a new way.
2. They can be adapted for student’s level. The problems that you see on the board are fairly advanced, but Smarty started with simple one and two-digit addition problems.
3. They give an “introduction” to algebra without getting to the boring subject of “solving for X”.
4. They are self-checking, and Smarty learned to solve an easier problem first to get more clues for harder parts.

Can Anyone Do Math Squares?

My husband was volunteering last year in Smarty’s K-1 combo classroom and used his math squares (beginner versions) with everyone in her class. Most kids loved them and were able to solve at least some of them in 20 minutes spent in his math station.

Want To Try Them Out?

Leave me a blog comment with your email address, and I’ll send you a beginner, intermediate, and advanced sample to try them out.

More Math Resources

• 100 Ways to Have Fun With Math at Home
• Tangrams for Beginners
• Hands-On Logic Problems for Elementary School
• Teach Your Preschoolers About Money
• Teach Your Preschoolers About Quantity and Numbers
• Teach Your Preschoolers to Tell Time

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