What I've found useful for my daughter is to have her practice math word problems because it helps her to apply her math skills to 'real world' situations. It engages her critical thinking skills as she tries to decipher the word problem into number problems. Then it uses her problem solving skills to figure out what is the solution she is suppose to be solving. It also allows her to see how multiplication, addition and subtraction and even division work together to solve problems. I think this is more effective than just giving math problems to your child to practice. I've collected a great list of websites that offer some math tips for 5th graders and also some free word problems for your kids to practice. practice is the key they say to building confidence in math. feel free to use our binder of links: 5th grade math word problems http://livebinders.com/play/play?id=1688