Grade 5 Math Initiative
October 9, 2009
Dear Parents or Guardians,
The grade 5 math teachers had decided to do a month-long practice
program on basic multiplication facts. The purpose of this initiative is to
increase students’ ability to recall basic multiplication facts. We feel
that this will help every student to succeed more easily in our Topic 8 Unit
on two-digit multiplication that we are currently studying. It will also
build general math confidence and help in all other topics throughout the
school year. Even students who know their facts can benefit by increasing
their speed. Therefore, we are asking for your help.
Four-week plan:
On Mondays we will give an in -class pretest on the set of facts for that
week.
At home: (Monday through Thursday)
• Give one timed practice sheet each night
• Parent must sign off on the sheet, correct it, and note the time
• Practice facts that are unknown or slow to recall with your child.
On Fridays there will be an in-class posttest on the set of facts for the
week.
Week 1: 2-5 facts
Week 2: 6 facts
Week 3: 7 facts
Week 4: 8 & 9 facts
Practice Suggestions:
• Use flash cards – bought or home-made
• Computer drill programs
• Internet drill sites
• Hand- held practice sites
• Talk about it…Ex. Would you like a cookie and how much is 6 x 9?
• Have students figure out real- life problems that use multiplication
• During commercials, in the car, etc…see how many facts they can get
correct
• Write the facts
• Practice skip counting
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Student’s name __________________________________
I have seen this note and agree to help: ________________________________
(Parent’s signature)
Please make sure that you time your child and write it on the paper. You
need to sign each page.