Many children can benefit from extra math help. Designing your own math worksheets can provide this extra practice and instruction. When designing a math worksheet, you must take into account the type of math, how many problems, how the worksheet will be done, and how to make it fun. This article will cover these tips on how to design your own math worksheet.
Design Math Worksheets – Type of Math
The first thing to consider when designing your own math worksheets is what type of math to use. This will depend on what type your child is currently learning or having trouble with. Addition and subtraction are good for any grade, and multiplication and division for grades three and up. You can also include fractions, decimals, algebra, geometry, time, or money problems.
Design Math Worksheets – Timed or Not?
General math facts, such as addition or multiplication, should be mastered so they can be done quickly. Designing a basic math worksheet that should be timed is a good idea for these kinds of problems. Other, more complex math problems should not be timed. Multi-step or word problems are good examples of these.
Design Math Worksheets – How Many Problems?
Deciding how many problems to put on your math worksheet depends on why you are making it. Math worksheets for a complete curriculum should be extensive enough to cement ideas and facts in the student’s mind. Some use math worksheets as quick exercises, no more than ten minutes or so, to keep a student’s skills fresh. Ten to fifteen problems are a good number for the latter type.
Design Math Worksheets – Word Problems
It is easy to design word problems for your math worksheet. You may like to make word problems that coincide with other subjects your child is currently learning. For example, if they are learning about Colonial times, you can write a word problem about harvesting wheat or miles traveled in a covered wagon.
To design a word problem math worksheet, first figure out what the math problem will be: addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. Pick the numbers and then just fill in a simple story to surround them.
Design Math Worksheets – Making it Fun
Math worksheets do not scream “Fun!” to most children. There are ways of designing them to make them less boring, however. Use the answers to the math problems to figure out a secret code message. For younger children, print out a coloring book picture and use the math answers to tell them what colors to color the picture. Use your imagination.
Any child that needs extra help in math will benefit from personally designed math worksheets. Determining what type of problems, how many, and the enjoyment factor is important. Following the directions above will assist you in creating math worksheets to increase your child’s skill with numbers.
