| Sites offering free math worksheets abound on | | | | small print can lead to stronger prescription |
| the Internet. So what should free math | | | | lenses. |
| worksheets look like? Are you searching for | | | | |
| worksheets that have lots of problems for | | | | [6] Where's the answer sheet? Are the answers |
| paper-pencil completion? Or is the illusive | | | | correct? Are the answers listed in a column |
| long division worksheet your quest? Finding | | | | that you have to match with the student |
| the answers to these questions depends | | | | worksheets or on a replica of the student |
| largely on personal preferences...and more | | | | page laced with answers? Last thing you need |
| importantly who will be completing your | | | | is to be in a hurry and red mark student |
| freely printed math worksheets. Here are 10 | | | | worksheets...when their answers were correct |
| criteria to keep in mind when selecting free | | | | all along. |
| arithmetic worksheets to use with students. | | | | |
| | | | [7] The student worksheets should print |
| [1] Division worksheets are not all created | | | | squarely on the page. No cut offs allowed. A |
| equal. There are basically two types: math | | | | pet peeve: get rid of the header and footer |
| fact sheets and long division sheets. Math | | | | if you are printing from a browser. Students |
| fact sheets are easy to create (with the | | | | donÃt need to know the URL of worksheets. |
| division symbol between the numbers) and | | | | It's just plain tacky. If you don't know how |
| require few if any paper calculation from | | | | to get the header and footer to disappear, |
| students. Long division sheets are more | | | | find someone who does. |
| difficult to program, e.g., with or without | | | | |
| remainders, and allow for stepwise student | | | | [8] Developers of free math worksheets |
| completion of problems. | | | | primarily use either of two methods for |
| | | | displaying and printing worksheets on the |
| [2] Problems should use the Courier font. | | | | Internet. PDF pages require an additional |
| Why? Every Courier font character uses the | | | | piece of software, Adobe Acrobat, which |
| same amount of space. A comma is the same | | | | should automatically open worksheets in your |
| width as the number 5. This means that all of | | | | browser. PDF worksheets theoretically cannot |
| the numbers line up perfectly for carrying | | | | be manipulated and display/print precisely as |
| during addition and bringing the zero down in | | | | the developer designed. The second mode of |
| division. | | | | delivery, HTML code, displays worksheets |
| | | | directly in your browser window. The downside |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | of using HTML based worksheets is they are |
| | | | prone to printing problems. A worksheet meant |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and | | | | for one page can easily bleed over to a |
| professional "full service" Search Engine | | | | second sheet. |
| Marketing help at very affordable rates. | | | | |
| | | | [9] Some free math worksheet sites allow you |
| [3] Are the problems too close together? Make | | | | to choose criteria, click a button, and |
| sure you can distinguish between the problem | | | | generate a web page of problems. These types |
| number and the actual problems. The problem | | | | of web sites allow for worksheets that |
| numbers should be less obtrusive. Students | | | | produce random digits in numbers. You should |
| with and without ADD and ADHD can become | | | | find more robust problems sets on |
| distracted by too many distractions!? | | | | web-generated math worksheets. |
| | | | |
| [4] Are there too many problems on the page? | | | | [10] How can web sites give away math |
| Some authors attempt to pack in the problems, | | | | worksheets? Do free math worksheet web sites |
| leaving little room for students to show | | | | make money? Yes and no. Let's just say it is |
| their work. The opposite can also be the | | | | very important that you visit and support |
| case. Maybe there are not enough problems to | | | | your favorite free math worksheets web site! |
| accurately assess student knowledge. | | | | |
| | | | In conclusion, nobody wants to pay for math |
| [5] Are the digits on the printed page large | | | | worksheets anymore. That's OK because there |
| or small? In my opinion and within reason, | | | | are lots of places on the Internet to get |
| the numbers can never be too large. | | | | freebies. Find arithmetic worksheets that |
| Exhibiting stress at an early age on | | | | address your needs and provide students with |
| elementary students' eyes from staring at | | | | competitive problems sets, FOR FREE! |