Daily Math Practice 6th-8th Grade
General Overview & Index

On-Line Learning

Public Area

Member Area

Home

Purpose:
Students should have the opportunity to think mathematically every day. Therefore, the problems on this site emphasize higher order thinking skills, not drill and practice.

Participants should soon discover, through attempting to solve these problems, that there is more than one way to approach a problem, and frequently there is more than one correct answer. Try to rewarded your children for creativity in their approach to the process of solving problems and that the importance of merely finding "the answer" will be de-emphasized. While doing these problems, of course, children will get plenty of opportunity to practice their arithmetic skills--not only pencil-and-paper skills, but also estimation, mental mantematics, and calculator skills.

This daily program will help children see connections among various topics so that the situation is real and, therefore, interesting for them. Topic include:

Set 1

Set 6

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

• geometry
• logic
• probability
• consumer applications
• algebra
• number sense
• data analysis

• critical thinking
• problem solving
• measurement
• estimation/mental math
• patterns
• communicating mathematics

Finally, to encourage critical thinking, be supportive, not prescriptive. For example, on certain problems, the student may chose to use paper and pencil, another the calculator, and still another, mental mathematics. Instead of considering on approach "right" and the other "wrong," you might discuss why they chose the method they used. Similarly, in problems requiring estimation, consider accepting a wide range of answers as "reasonable"; the process is just as important as the result.

Time Management
Each problem requires about five to ten minutes a day. These problems work best when presented daily, not once a week for twenty-five minutes. Regular practice will lead to greater skill retention than will occasional immersion. Discuss the problem and solution to gain even more benefit from the experience.

How to Use Daily Math Practice
Here are some ways you may choose to structure the exercises.

1. Solve the problem from the computer screen
2. Print the page for your child.
3. Require your child to copy the problem on a piece of paper.
4. Dictate the problem while the child writes it down on paper.

Answer Pages

Notes are linked to every problem for easy reference. The notes include the following

• Some sample answers when a variety of answers are possible
• Background notes containing useful mathematical information related to the problem
• Occasionally, a related follow-up question to ask children.
• The answer, when there is one correct answer or a sample answer when more than one would work.