The Best Addition Facts Practice for Every Learning Style

Once your child has mastered the addition facts strategies, it’s time to build speed and fluency. But  addition facts practice doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all. You know your child best, so pick an addition fact practice option that fits your child’s learning style and personality.

Addition Facts Practice For the Child Who Can’t Stop Moving

Math facts don’t have to be practiced sitting in a chair. If you have a child who’s always in motion:

• Ask your child math fact questions while he bounces on a mini-trampoline or exercise ball.
• Use Addition Fact Wrap-Ups. Each plastic key focuses on one type of addition fact at a time (for example, all the +2 facts). The child wraps a string around the key to match each addend with the correct sum. Perfect for kinesthetic kids who enjoy fine-motor activities.
• Have your child recite addition tables rhythmically as she hops on one foot, does jumping jacks, or shadow-boxes. (“One plus one is two!” JUMP “One plus two is three!” JUMP…)
• Toss around a Clever Catch Addition Ball. Have your child say the answer to whichever problem his right thumb is on. (You can also make an easy homemade addition ball with a sharpie and cheap beach ball.)

Adding for Your Independent-Minded Introvert

Some kids just want to do. it. themselves. (And sometimes we parents need our kids to go off and practice on their own while we change the baby’s diaper and deal with the leak in the dishwasher!)

• Free printable addition worksheets: This website generates nice-looking, printable addition worksheets. I also like how you can set the addends so that your child can focus on just one type of problem at a time. (For example, if you want your child to practice just the +9 facts, set “Range of 2nd Addend” as 9 to 9.)
• Math-U-See also has a free printable addition worksheet generator that lets you choose worksheets by strategy. To find the addition worksheets choose Alpha for “Select Book.” Then, for “Select Lessons” choose addition strategies from lessons 4 through 16.
• Addition Facts That Stick provides systematic instruction and worksheets that will allow your child to focus on one group of addition facts at a time, as well as reviewing all previously learned facts.
• If you want to save some time and ink, try an inexpensive addition fact workbook. My favorite is Kumon’s Speed and Accuracy: Adding Numbers 1-9. It has a clear layout, good-quality paper, and lots of white space.  

Practicing the Addition Facts for the Tech-y Kid

If your kid loves playing around online, there are tons of free math practice sites out there. The only problem is that there is a lot of junk out there, too. Here are a few of the best online addition facts games for your tech-y child.

• Math-U-See has free addition drills online. They’re not fancy, but they allow you to choose specific addition strategies to work on, without any time pressure. If you’re not using the Math-U-See program, click “Hide the Blocks”  to prevent your child from getting distracted by them.
• Xtramath is a comprehensive math facts site that adapts to your child and focuses on just the facts that your child needs to work on. But because it only allows the child three seconds to respond, this site is only for children who thrive on time pressure. Make sure you give your kids some practice typing numbers before doing this program so that slow typing doesn’t keep them from getting answers correct.
• Abcya.com has many cute and engaging addition fact games. Some of these may be too baby-ish for older kids, but your younger kids will love them.
• FlowPlus ($1.99 app) has a nice variety of review games, along with the option to choose which numbers you want your child to work on.

Addition Games and Flash Cards for Your Sociable Child

If your child thrives on spending time with you, you can kill two birds with one stone: addition facts practice and quality time together, all in one! Another huge advantage of games and flash cards is that they allow you to monitor your child’s progress and correct any mistakes before they become habitual.

• Old-fashioned flash cards are effective for building speed after your child has mastered the addition fact strategies. My favorite set is a little more expensive than some of the other sets available, but the durable cardboard means it will last through all your kids. You can always make your own free flash cards with index cards and a marker, too.
• Kids love playing games like Bingo, Yahtzee, and War. Check out my printable addition games for details on how to play all three fun games.
• Addition Facts That Stick has fun games that help your child practice one group of addition facts at a time.

Remember, make sure your child has mastered the addition fact strategies before using these addition fact practice options. Otherwise, memorizing all the facts by rote will take a looooong time–and they may slip right out of your child’s short-term memory as soon as she stops practicing them regularly.

To help your child master the addition facts for good, check out my book. Addition Facts That Stick will give you strategies, games, and worksheets to teach your child addition facts that really STICK!