First Grade Math Practice Tips and IdeasFirst grade math practice in the home is generally easy to incorporate. Children in this age group are generally eager and interested in math, and all you need to engage them in home practice is time and interest on YOUR part. FREE to print and download: My own series of 1st grade math worksheets to help your child master the fundamental skills of addition and subtraction up to 20. Do these worksheets, one page per day, to help your child memorize the math facts. Plus, you'll also find guidance about why its critical to memorize these math facts and lots of tips for practice and remediation! Math Games & Activities: Coin collecting Any game involving movement up and down a game-board, such as Chutes and Ladders Chutes and Ladders can easily be used for addition and subtraction practice, too. "If you're on Square 33 and spin a 4, where do you end up?" Or "If you're on Square 57 and want to land on Square 62 (to go up the ladder, of course), what number do you need to spin?"
One card game that's good for addition practice is the card game "Cribbage" In Cribbage, points are scored by making combinations of fifteens, and runs of three or four cards. Playing requires doing some arithmetic in your head in order to keep score. (This is an advanced game for a six- or seven-year-old, but you can play "open handed" -- everyone showing their cards-- and helping, until your child gets the idea of the game.) 
Even More Math GamesChildren love to play games with parents, and games are especially valuable if your child isn't open to approaches like practice books or flash cards. You certainly don't want math practice to become a negative experience! By the way, you don't need to mention to your child that the game has math practice in it! Children young and old can also gain math-related skills from puzzles. Check out the Puzzle Master web site to view a large and unique collection of brain teasers; puzzles for all ages.
When your child uses the Kumon series, Can you tell I like the Kumon products? : ) Want more helpful tips and ideas to help your child achieve math success? Complete the form below to receive the Sensible Math Tips - the e-Zine for parents.
Oral Practice: Counting and arithmetic can be done orally, in the car, on walks, around the house. Once counting up to 100 is mastered, practice counting backwards, and by multiples (often referred to as "skip counting"). Counting backwards helps with subtraction. Counting by multiples will build part of the skill foundation for multiplication. Start by 2's then 5's and then, once the child has mastered these easier multiples, do them all, 2-10 in order -- if you get that far.
Your child might enjoy doing timed tests of his or her math facts skills. Buy some flash cards and time how long it takes to get answers to ten cards. Practice with the cards and then time again. Reward your child for the first time he gets all the answers right with no mistakes or for getting ten cards right in 30 seconds or less.
Oral arithmetic practice should be easy. You should be asking questions your child should always get right. Just gradually build up to harder questions. Remember, first grade math practice should be fun. Written Practice: If your child is forming the numerals poorly, or is shaky with even easy addition and subtraction (like + or - 1 or 2) by the Spring in the school year, I would suggest scheduling five minutes of written practice in addition to his or her homework.
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has counting practice built into every turn.
. I became convinced of the value of Cribbage in First Grade math skills development when, after learning to play with his Grandfather, my five-year-old son spontaneously counted to 20 by 2's (using the Cribbage lingo, 15-2, 15-4, 15-6, ...).
