Individualized Weekly Speed Tests
Speed tests are given weekly throughout the school year. These tests begin at addition and finish at multiplication. The purpose of these tests is to encourage each child’s mastery of strategies that will help him or her master basic facts using accurate but efficient methods. These strategies are taught in school. However, each child varies in the amount of time needed to successfully understand and apply this knowledge. Hence, it is important to review the strategy your child is at, particularly if he or she missed a level.
If your child passes a test, he or she will move to the next level. In order to pass the half sheet of approximately 18 math problems, each problem must be done in 3 minutes or less without errors. A test longer than 3 minutes or any errors results in a repeated level the following week. Practice at home is strongly encouraged and often necessary. Incentives are given after completion of each of the three main levels.
Addition Levels:
+0: Adding numbers with zero. (8 +0, 7+0)
+1: Adding numbers with one. (1+9, 1+3)
Doubles: Double the number (8+8, 3+3)
Doubles Plus One: Double the number then go up or down from the sum. (6+6=12, so 6+7 =13 or 7+7 =14 so 6+7= 13.)
Counting On: When there is a 1, 2 or 3, just add up from the largest number. (9+3, 8+2)
Fast Tens: Ten pattern (10+3, 10+8, 10+7)
Fast Nines: If you know fast tens, work off that base and go one number down or up. Since 10 plus 3 is 13, 9 plus 3 is one less.
Subtraction Levels
Counting Back: Numbers can be counted down when you start at a large number and count back 1, 2,3.
(8- 2, 7-1, 9-3) Very similar to “Counting On” but in reverse.
Counting Up: Works with numbers that are close in value. Count up from the smaller number to the higher. (9-6, 8-7, 10 – 8.)
Mixed: Both of the two previous strategies.
Doubles, Fact Families: Use fact families or doubles to help you find the difference. (18-9, 16-8, 17-8)
Fact Families of 11: (11-3, 11-6, 10 + ___=11)
Fact families of 12 (12-4, 12 – 9, 9 + 3)
Fact Families of 13 through 18 (18-9, 13-8, 10+7)
Multiplication Levels
X0, x1, x2, x 3, x4, x5, x6, x7, x8, x9, x10, and x11