An explanation of the goal with Arithmetic. If you can have your kids (yourself) know the arithmetic basics, such that it is automatic, they (you) can concentrate on the problem, not with struggling to use the tools. You could look at it as if you are shifting certain functions from the conscious mind to the unconscious mind. This is achieved through, <sigh!> repetition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automaticity
Some of these links are still being reviewed for usefulness, however I going to post them. If at some point I don't find them as relevant, I'll delete them.
http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/grade-1.html
