Use visual aids such as number lines and hundred charts. While learning multiplication facts, observe how the multiples increase as a result of skip counting. For example, multiples of even numbers are all even numbers and form patterns. Odd number multiples alternate between odd and even numbers. Multiples of nine have digits that add up to nine and form a diagonal pattern across the chart. Seeing visual representations of numbers helps students to learn number skills in a concrete rather than abstract way. Visualize skip counting on a number line or number chart to reinforce the meaning of addition and repeated addition as multiplication.
Practice your estimation skills. Rounding numbers helps to mentally compute them. While shopping, round the individual purchases and mentally calculate how much the total cost is. While traveling, observe how far the odometer has increased to mentally calculate the distance traveled. Save an amount of money each week and mentally calculate how many weeks it will take to reach a specific amount of money. Measure the amount of cereal in a bowl, and mentally calculate how many bowls the entire box contains.
Improve understanding of fractional concepts by using fraction charts and benchmarks. Line up equivalent fractions with different denominators to learn fractional equivalence. Compare and order fractions by using benchmarks starting with one half and one whole. View all of the fractions that are equal to one half to determine which fractions are greater than and less than one half. Advance to studying benchmarks of one fourth and three fourths.
Draw pictures or physically act out math problems to develop problem solving strategies. To determine how many different combinations can be made using a number of different shirts and pants, draw the combinations. To determine how many different ways three books can be arranged, arrange three books different ways and count. To determine how many pencils each student will receive when dividing a large amount, model the problem. Using concrete objects will help reinforce proper selection of mathematical operations to solve problems.