3 Fabulous Math Games for Fact Fluency

Hi friends! I'm sharing three math fact games perfect for fluency practice that your students are going to LOVE playing. These math fact games allow for differentiation at different levels of math fact mastery so all students can play the same game at a math station, center, or in a small group.

Sequence Num6ers (7+ adult): This game is for 3 players individually or 3 student teams working in partner groups. The object of the game is to score one sequence of 5 chips in a down, across, or diagonal pattern on the gameboard before your opponents. This game is perfect for addition and subtraction math fact practice as the playing cards feature both addition and subtraction number sentences. Colored coded number sentences and corresponding answers on the gameboard help students with their fact fluency. Students who need extra support can play the game with a number line. A few unexpected twists keep game play fun. Two "plus" cards allows a player to place a chip in any open space on the game board allowing players to "block" each other and the two "minus" cards allows you to remove an opponent's chip on the gameboard.

Double Shutter Shut the Super Box (6+ adult): This game is suitable for 1-4 players (you will need to keep score with the multiplayer game). The object of the game is to shut all of the tiles in the box or have the lowest remaining total on the board. The game directions are primarily written for addition but I've modified this game in the classroom and used this game for addition, subtraction, or multiplication fact practice. Students start with all the tiles flipped up. They roll two dice and create as many correct addition, subtraction, or multiplication number sentences and answers as they can. For each correct number sentence and answer, they get to shut the corresponding tile. Players can only shut a tile from the back row if the tile in front has already been shut. When the total points on the remaining tiles is six or fewer, players can choose to throw only one dice.

Four Way Countdown (6+ adult): This game is for 2-4 players. The object of the game is to be the first player to flip up all ten keys (wooden pegs) before your opponents. This game allows students to create addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division number sentences to match their roll of the dice. When students create a correct number sentence and answer, they flip up their key on their side of the gameboard. A few twists keep this game exciting, if you roll a double six and you have to put all of your keys back down. Roll an eleven and you get to choose: have it count for a number one (6 - 5 =1) or choose to put all of your opponent's keys down. (This is by far the most popular choice in my classroom.)

I hope that you'll be *Adding Some Sparkle* to your classroom very soon. I'd love to hear from my fellow teachers. How are you using this games in your classroom? Send me a Tweet @addsparkle88 or send me a picture on IG addsomesparkle88. Until next time friends.

No More Money Egg Drama

In the past, I dreaded teaching counting money because it meant that I had to use those plastic "money eggs" with my math groups. You know what I'm talking about, right? Those plastic Easter eggs that we "saved" from last season and stuffed with a group of coins and stored in an egg carton.

What happened when students used them? Coins fell out of the eggs and got lost so my teacher answer key never matched up with the amount the students counted. The students switched the tops and bottoms of the eggs (yes, even though they were color coded) so that my "numbered" eggs ended up all mixed up. The not-so durable plastic eggs and egg cartons cracked/broke/fell apart and their contents fell all over the floor. What a disaster!

What is a teacher to do? I say get rid of them. I decided to work SMARTER not HARDER. So get out your Popsicle sticks (Jumbo sized preferably) and hot glue gun. Turn your money eggs into money sticks by hot gluing your coins to a Popsicle stick and solve all of your pesky money egg problems.

To easily differentiate and meet the needs of all of your students, vary the placement of the coins on the stick. Green money sticks feature amounts less than $1.00 and coins are arranged largest to smallest amount. Red money sticks feature amounts greater than $1.00 and are arranged randomly for a more real-life type of counting situation.

Another benefit of using money sticks? They are very versatile. Students used the money sticks to compare different amounts of money using the greater than, less than, and equal to symbols. 

We also played the game "kaboom" with money sticks. Without peeking, students drew money sticks out of a container. If the student was able to successfully count the money amount on the stick, they got to keep it. If they were wrong, they put it back into the container. When they drew the "kaboom" stick, they had to put all of their winning sticks back into the container and start over.

I'd love to hear how you are ditching those eggs for money sticks in your classroom. Tweet me @addsparkle88, IG at addsomesparkle88, or connect with me on Facebook at Add Some Sparkle. See you next time friends!