Homeschool With Index Cards

I have received a few e-mails asking me how I like our Math on the Level math program.  The answer is "I LOVE IT!"  This resource is such a fantastic way to teach my children the different math concepts when they are ready.  Not when someone else tells me I need to teach them.  As a huge proponent of Ruth Beechick’s ideology, as well as an up and coming Charlotte Masonite, this program fits so well with the idea of natural, relaxed learning.  I always could teach my kids reading concepts, writing, science, history, etc., when they were ready.  Now Math on the Level allows me to do the same with math.  It has been such a huge blessing in our homeschool.

BUT..on to the real reason for this post.  :O)  We recently got our hands on Math on the Level’s 9′s Down Fact Books.  (You can get printed copies or e-books.  We have the e-book version.)  Below is a quick description from the author’s, Carlita, own words: 

"Have you ever noticed that your children do fine on recalling
the 1′s, 2′s, 3′s, 4′s and 5′s on their math facts, but slow waaaay
down on the 6′s, 7′s, 8′s, and 9′s? Mine had that trouble. One day
when I was thinking about it, I had a brilliant flash of the obvious:
they never master them because we hardly ever practice them! By
starting at the low numbers every fall and working up, we don’t get to
the challenging facts until the end of the year when everyone’s tired.
The solution? Our 9′s Down Math Facts. These are drill sheets (yes,
Math on the Level actually has one area where we use drill sheets) that
help a child increase recall speed, but starting with the 9′s and adding
one fact at a time. And now 9′s Down’s are available in e-book format."

I personally feel that daily drill should be something that is worked on in upper elementary to junior high age.  Well, since my kids are in 5th and 7th grades, I felt like it was time to get to work on really hammering down those addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.  On the surface, one thing I really liked about these books is that they start with the 9′s.  These are facts that my kids really didn’t have a lot of practice with or a lot of confidence in.  Once I received the books, I was greatly pleased with the record keeping ability.  Let me explain…

The books are set up with instructions on use, as well as 2 different types of recording keeping pages.  I liked them both, so we use them both.  :O)  I printed off 8 copies of the shorter record keeping pages for myself.  I labeled half of these for 1 child, then the second half for the other child.  So now, each child has 4 pages.  I think you can see where I’m going with this.  LOL!  Now, I labeled each with ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICATION, and DIVISION.  So now, I have a record for each child and each operation.  I placed my copies in my Overview and Record Keeping Binder, which is a part of the Math on the Level Resource Package.  I also printed off the answer keys for each of the operations, each on a different colored piece of paper.  Addition is pink, subtraction is blue, and so on.  Now my binder has in it the Addition answer key, followed by the addition record keeping sheets for each child.  Then comes subraction, then multiplication, and then division.

Remember I mentioned the 2 types of record keeping sheets?  I printed 8 of those as well.  I gave the kids each 4, which they labeled with the 4 operations.  These are hole-punched and placed in their math notebooks.  +, -, x, then /.  Each of these record keeping pages has a place to chart their scores.  I like the additional visual as well using this tool to indirectly teach them graphs and charts.  :O)  A small extra bonus! 

Each week, they work on 1 operation drill page per day.  Addition is on Monday, Subtraction Tuesday, Multiplication Wednesday, and Division is Thursday.  Once they are done on one day, then I allow them to check the answers while I read them from the answer key.  We then figure the # missed, if any, then figure out the percentage score.  Then all is recorded on the different record keeping sheets.  I record on mine and they on theirs.

There are several different levels of sheets in these books.  Another factor that makes this very interesting is that Carlita recommends the child scores 2-100%’s before they move on to the next sheet for that operation.  The kids have set their own goals and get really excited to see when they get to move on to the next pages.  I do have to say that at different times, both of my children have made silly mistakes with the very beginning pages and I did let them move on, even though they did not get the 2 consecutive 100′s.  BUT, now that they are further into the sheets, they know they need to get them.  However, since the program is geared for me to do what is best for my kids, I may be a little more lenient down the road, only if I need to be.

 I think this also helps the kids to set their own goals, as well as being careful to work hard and not make careless mistakes.  In the grown-up world, we don’t always get to move on if we mess up.  I guess I didn’t realize my kids would pick up on good character traits as well as cementing those math facts!  :O)

I highly recommend even if you are not going to use the Math on the Level program for your core math resource, that you at least pick up copies of the 9′s Down Math Fact books.

 You can see those here:

9′s Down Math Fact books  

Oh, did I also mention that I have been very pleased with the way Math on the Level coordinates with my math handbooks as well as math flashcards?  They have been great compliments to each other.  :O)