Turn Everyday Math Practice Into a Fast, Fun Challenge

Two findings do most of the work. Spacing: the same total practice spread over several days beats one block. Retrieval: pulling an answer from memory builds recall far better than reading it. Short, frequent, answer-it-yourself sessions are effective for both reasons at once — which is why a minute a day outperforms an hour a week.

Mixed practice is harder than it looks, and usefully so. When every question is addition, a child can switch off and apply one procedure; when the operation changes each round, they have to read the problem first. That reading step is exactly what breaks down in word problems and on tests, so drilling it deliberately is worth the extra difficulty.