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children are ready for these concepts. I have found that the more physical movement involved, the better the achievement in relation to memorisation. Depending on how well the children relate to each other, they can be put into teams to play the number game, thereby adding a further element of excitement.

My class often practises number facts in groups. One group might use the floor mat with stepping stones that show digits 0 to 10. Two children each step onto a "stone" and compete to be first to call out the sum of the two numbers, though they sometimes need an older or more skilled child to be the "umpire" for the group to avoid arguments. Another group might be playing a game where two dice are thrown and their numbers totalled. (We have two large sponge-rubber dice for this game, as the dots are easily visible.) A third group could be using the computer games to reinforce the same skill. Rotating the groups each morning gives everyone a turn at each activity.

If we keep remembering that children learn more readily when they are having fun, we can teach the tedious aspects of Mathematicss, particularly the number facts, so much more easily. There are some useful CDs available with songs that help reinforce multiplication facts. The children enjoy these, but as they sing the facts in order (1 x 4 = 4, 2 x 4 = 8, 3 x 4 = 12, etc.) this provides a useful introduction, but should lead into another activity where there is random presentation.

Many educational computer games have been developed to support the learning of number facts and these deserve to be a regular part of the maths program. However, to ensure multi-sensory involvement, nothing beats a game where the child is involved in whole-body movement, visual and aural stimulation, cognitive challenges and friendly competition - all tied together with fun and entertainment!

Ensuring that your students have a thorough grounding in the basic numbers facts will give them the confidence and competence that encourages ongoing success in Mathematics. Quick recall of these facts allows accurate and speedy computation and contributes greatly to the students' overall success and enjoyment of this challenging subject.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Moss.
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