Spark PILOT 2017 [Kumon Oak Bay Victoria] Spark PILOT 2017 [Kumon Oak Bay Victoria] | Page 7

S PA R K M a g a z i n e | P I L O T 2 0 1 7
KUM O N ST U DI E S
7
5 TIPS TO PERFECT YOUR
CHILD’S MENTAL MATH
T I PS FROM T HE KUMO N CA N A DA B LO G
2. WHAT’S MY NUMBER? 4. MATH JEOPARDY
advantage in school. By conduct- First write out the numbers one Give your child a piece of paper and
ing basic addition and subtraction through 20 on a lined piece of paper. then say a number. Give them one
problems mentally, a child’s math Think of a number that your child minute to find as many ways as they
fluency can improve, allowing them will have to guess and ask them to can to make the number using addi-
to advance more easily to higher guess what your number is by adding tion, subtraction, multiplication and
level mathematics. two numbers. For example, if your division.
Understanding simple math facts
can offer students a tremendous
number is 12, then they could add
More than anything, learning some
basic, but useful mental math strat-
egies, can work to greatly improve
7+5. 5. DICE
3. THE NUMBER IS RIGHT Using a standard die, each player
will roll the die as many times as they
your children’s self-confidence.
Here are five fun activities to help On a piece of paper, write a number like and keep a running total of the
strengthen your child’s mental math between one and 100 and have your numbers rolled. If the player rolls
skills. child take turns guessing the number number one, the player loses his or
written. After each incorrect guess, her current total and another player
you must tell the players if the number takes turns rolling the die. Players can
guessed is higher or lower than the hold their current score by passing on
Have your child count out five small number written down. The game con- the die to their opponents. The game
objects such as pennies, marbles, or tinues until someone correctly guesses can continue until each player has had
candy and have them close their eyes. the number. five turns or reach a total sum of 25.
1. MENTAL MYSTERY
Then hide some of the five objects, while
leaving the rest uncovered. Ask your
child to calculate how many objects
they see and how many objects are
covered. Practice this activity until your
child can quickly solve these simple
equations. Add one additional object
once your child has mastered that level
to increase difficulty. For older children,
start with 10-20 objects.