Timed Math Tests in First Grade

My boys also had timed tests in 1st grade. They didn't make a big deal of it until 3rd grade when standardized testing came into play.

My boy had times tests in first grade. Not verbal though, it was written. I think it's the norm.
L.

Our daughter also did this.

You will be way more stressed than he will.. Don't let hm know you are worried. Just tell him to "do his best, because you know he will do fine. "

my daughter is in 2nd & they take written timed tests, there are 100 problems on the tests, right now her goals are set to complete between 18-25 correctly in under 1 minute...

VERY common...My daugther has timed tests too. She is finally catching up with the rest of the class. I asked the teacher over email to send extra copies to practice at home. My daughter was getting a little discouraged about not finishing all the problems. Seems with her it was speed as she answered them all correctly. Your idea sounds great. Keep it positve and fun!

I am a regular substitute at the elementary school my daughter (now 16) attended and this is a normal part of the math portion of class.

We make it fun, no pressure and it is like a beat the clock game. It helps the students learn basic math facts so they'll be ready for other timed tests in the future.

It is not a negative and when I announce timed test, I usually get a roar of YEAHHH in excitement. At the end, we go over it together.

My daughter started them in 1st grade and has them in 2nd grade as well. They call them "beat the clock" at her school. They are given a sheet of equations though, it's not verbal.

My son did that in 1st grade.

my daughter has straight a's and scored the top score in her school on the standardized test. she gets 100 on all state assessments.
she has NEVER completed a timed test on her math facts. Not once.

My oldest had them and that's how I was tested 25 years go.

Honestly, it seems the schools are more interested in test scores than what the kids actually know. For that reason (and quite a few others), we chose to homeschool. We wanted learning to be fun...and it is again. Unfortunately, this IS normal.

Totally normal, ours just weren't verbal they were written.

Wow I am shocked reading that this is normal. Maybe because I too am an older Mom. I am 40 and didn't have timed tests until 3rd grade, and I hated them. I now have a 3 yo and a 6 yo, but my 6yo I am homeschooling, for her first grade year this year. I didn't even consider timing her, or giving her tests like this. She gets most answers correct in math, but she isn't what I would call speedy. that sounds like a lot of pressure even if it is a game. what if they can't do them all, won't they still feel bad? I know in 3rd grade it really hurt me that I couldn't keep up with the timed tests. And I was a gifted math student. Ended up in all the gifted programs and still thought I was lousy because of those 3rd grade timed tests which I always failed. I wonder what purpose those serve. Because for me they only served to hurt my self esteem. I never got better at them despite Acing all my honors math classes throughout my HS and college years. Is this a necessary skill now?

I'm about to turn 46. I have two sons ages 24 and 16 and they did not do this until later. My soon to be 7 year old triplets just started 1st grade. Their school is very geared to learning and higher rated for education. They are no where near doing such intense math tests. 45 in ONE minute? That seems extreme and truly unnecessary, and yes, full of pressure. I certainly would not give in to such pressures and would voice my opinion on the matter. Seems a bit on the ridiculous side to me. Way too much pressure.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I had to do this in second grade. It was miserable for me, as I sat in the back and had to copy the problems from the overhead projector. I was just starting to need glasses (which we wouldn't figure out till much later) and spent most of my time erasing and writing the problems. I rarely got more than 5 finished and always felt bad about it. Hopefully, they have a better way of doing these timed tests now!

I was in first grade in 1981, we had timed Math tests. They are an excellent way to flex the brain; you know warm it up. I have been teaching for 14 yrs. Though I do not teach Math I often use simple Math equations to get lethargic students moving. Timed Math tests are not a very big deal unless the school or the teacher administering them in putting some sort of added pressure on the students. To help your child not stress during tests I would not share any of your reservations or tests anxieties( not sure that's the right word) with him. You are, however, a client of the school and have every right to question the school or the teacher.
As a teacher, many times the school makes a decision that the teachers know are bad for the students. Teachers can not be the advocates parents are; parents have a lot more leverage. The parents and the students are the clients, your tax dollars pay salaries and you should have a school willing to listen

Updated

I was in first grade in 1981, we had timed Math tests. They are an excellent way to flex the brain; you know warm it up. I have been teaching for 14 yrs. Though I do not teach Math I often use simple Math equations to get lethargic students moving. Timed Math tests are not a very big deal unless the school or the teacher administering them in putting some sort of added pressure on the students. To help your child not stress during tests I would not share any of your reservations or tests anxieties( not sure that's the right word) with him. You are, however, a client of the school and have every right to question the school or the teacher.
As a teacher, many times the school makes a decision that the teachers know are bad for the students. Teachers can not be the advocates parents are; parents have a lot more leverage. The parents and the students are the clients, your tax dollars pay salaries and you should have a school willing to listen

This is a new thing schools are doing to follow the no child left behind. They need to know certain ones by sight. its annoying for the child who stinks at taking tests but its being done by most schools now.

My kids started their school days in a small private school. Yes...there were timed tests in 1st grade. I personally think they helped my kids to become the advanced math students they are today (in 7th and 9th grades). They also had timed reading tests when they started reading.