These helpers or hints have helped me tremendously. I just love cute little sayings that help me remember English, Spelling and Arithmetic rules.
Part 1 of Helper and Hints
Part 2 of Helper and Hints
Part 3 of Helper and Hints
Part 4 of Helper and Hints
- The 11 Times Trick – We know the trick when multiplying by ten – add 0 to the end of the number, but 11’s are simple as well when multiplying by double digits.
Take the original number and imagine a space between the two digits (in this example we will use 52:
5_2
Now add the two numbers together and put them in the middle:
5_(5+2)_2
That is it – you have the answer: 572.
If the numbers in the middle add up to a 2 digit number, just insert the second number and add 1 to the first:
9_(9+9)_9
(9+1)_8_9
10_8_9
1089 – It works every time. - To get the first eight digits of pi, count the number of letters in each word of this phrase:
May(3) I(1) have(4) a(1) large(5) container(9) of(2) coffee (6)? - Divide a number by 3? Just add up all the digits until you have a single number. If THAT number is divisible by three, so is the original number. (I.e. 4545 . If you add 4+5+4+5 you get 18. Then add 1+8, which equals 9. Nine is divisible by three, so you know that 4545 is too.)
- Order of taxonomy in biology:
Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species) - Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; (meaning pretty day)
Red sky at morn, sailor’s be warned. (meaning storms) - MISSISSIPPI – M,i, crooked letter, crooked letter, i, crooked letter, crooked letter, i, hump back, hump back, i.
- A song to learn the order of the presidents of the United States of America.
To see more helpful hints, go to Works for me Wednesdays. ©www.ilovemy5kids.blogspot.com
Mom2fur says
What fun! Hey, mneumonic (sp?) devices aren’t just for kids–this 53-year-old loves them, too! That one for Pi is awesome.
Do you know this one?
HOMES on a Great Lake: H-Huron, O-Ontario, M-Michigan, E-Erie, S-Superior.
Also, I have a great trick to remember ‘affect’ vs. ‘effect.’ Effect is a noun. You use the word ‘the’ with nouns. Just match up the ‘e’ at the end of ‘the’ with the ‘e’ in front of ‘effect.’
‘Affect’ is a verb. Verbs are “Action” words–so just remember that the two a’s go together!
Kirsty says
How fantastic for the Math challenged like me. Can’t wait to show off to my kids!! Thank you 🙂
Buzzings of a Queen Bee! says
I have always wanted to have a song to help me learn the presidents in order. Aren’t I weird? But this will be fun! Thanks!
Carrie
Jenny Smith says
I happened upon your blog one day and found it so interesting, that I check back nearly daily to see if you’ve posted again! I am a teacher, granted, I teach 3-5 year olds with special needs, but nonetheless, I find your “hints and helpers” just facinating! I was never a good math student, and still to this day, hate working with numbers (unless it says “pay to the order of” followed by my name!) but I definately find some of your tactics helpful even now! I just wanted you to know how much I thoroughly enjoy your blog!
Kristi says
I’ve got to take a biology CLEP test next Friday…thanks for tip #4! Blessings to you!