Using Math Flashcards For Failing Students

By Jerry Hughes


Math can be difficult for many people to learn. Many are intimidated by the idea of math before they even try. Teachers use many methods to engage their classes in learning, such as games, computer apps, and manipulatives. Math flashcards for failing students are commonly used to reinforce previously known facts and to learn new ones.

Frequent breaks should be a part of the learning process. Studying for a long period of time is not effective. The brain stops retaining information after a while. Study time should be broken up with different activities, usually those that are academic in nature.

All people fall into three different learning categories: hands-on, visual, and auditory. It is best to have learning activities that fit all three categories. If students are exposed to all three types of learning they will have activities that directly match their learning style. They will also be exposed to other styles of learning and become more adaptable.

Some studies show that the learning of math facts is an important part of success in the future. Children who are failing higher mathematics courses often lack the knowledge of these facts. Adults can also find benefit in learning with flashcards. If they missed out on the information as a child, learning arithmetic problems can make their lives much easier.

These cards allow for repetition of facts. The teacher can even choose certain problems for the student to work on. Flashcards can be found for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Of course, it is easy to make flashcards that focus on a certain area. There are online templates that allow the teacher or student to print out their own flashcards.

A tested method of using flash cards is to choose fifteen facts to focus on. Twelve of these should be problems that the child already knows. The cards are shown to the student rapidly. The teacher repeats the problem and the solution out loud if the child does not answer within two seconds. The card goes back in the stack, about three cards behind. If the student gets a card correct, that card goes to the back. Missed problems are repeated and placed three cards back until the learner answers it correctly at least three times.

Learners that have behavioral disorders as well as learning issues can benefit from the use of repetition. This process is often biological; the brain may not be storing the information in long-term memory properly. Repetition can assist the learner in keeping the information in the front of their mind and also stimulate the brain into storing the information. There are also other learning methods that are effective, such as chants or songs.

Flash cards have always been a basic building block of learning. They are simple and effective. Cards are inexpensive to create or purchase. Anyone with a printer can print out their own cards and even laminate them. They can last for months. Instructors can divide children into learning groups based upon similar needs. Children can then assist each other in learning using cards. The process of repetition is a reliable way of learning for all skill levels.




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