Each Monday, your child will have a math facts page in their folder for homework. You may choose how to study the facts that they are working on. Some ideas include making flash cards, timing them, or simply just doing one column per night. Every Friday, we will have a Fact Friday. Students will have 5 min to complete 50 math fact problems. If they get them done and correct, they will have the next set of facts to practice. I realize that this is different from most math homework. However if students are fluent in their basic math facts, they will have an easier time with the different more difficult strategies that we will be working on. This will help them as they strive towards proficiency in their math standards.
Fluency practice will need to be done nightly. Fluent readers read with accuracy and expression. There will be 4 fluency passages sent home every Monday. Choose the passage that is the best fit for your child. Do one, or do them all. All I ask is that you keep it consistent the entire week. The goal is to improve each time a passage is read. Even if it is by 1 sound! Time your child for 1 min, and watch them improve!
Read with your child for at least 20 min a night. It may not seem like it makes a difference, but I promise it does. I can easily tell which students read at home, and which ones do not. Dyad reading is a good strategy if your child is struggling with fluency. Hold the book as pictured to the left. Have your child track the words as you read together. You are their model, they will read out loud with you. Studies have been done surrounding this method. It is highly successful. Keep track of words that were hard to sound out, or difficult for your child to understand. Use time afterwards to discuss those tricky words!