Thursday, November 6, 2014

Teach Multiplication Facts

Multiplication facts are part of growing up. A child needs to learn them and be able to solve them quickly in order to progress very far in math. They key is to do different activities so that it keeps them engaged.


Instructions


1. Choose the multiplication facts you are learning. A good order is 2x,10x,5x,3x,4x,9x,6x,7x,8x. The following steps take place over 4-6 days. Let's say you choose 3x


2. Have your child learn to count by this number. This is just pure memorization. So for 3 it's 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30. Let your child know that all basic 3x answers will come from this list.


3. Play war. Take your 1- 2 decks of cards each player lays out two cards and whoever has the largest product wins and keeps all the cards.


4. play a computer game online free or purchased. Choose one you can determine the facts you are working on.


5. Play beat the calculator. Lay a 3 card down. The child lays out another card and tries to do the problem in his head. You slowly punch in the fact on a calculator. Increase speed gradually.


6. Play waterfall. Take a deck of cards lay your 3 card down. Then like flash cards put one card down after another with your child trying to multiply them quickly if he gets it he keeps the cards if not you keep it. For better practice take out the face cards If the child needs confidence boost leave them in and call them 10's. Keep track of the facts your child missed..


7. Play Any which way. Using the fact your child missed in Waterfall ( say 3 x 8 =24) Have the child roll 4 dice with the object being to add/subtract/multiply /divide their way to 24. Remind them that 3 x 8 is 24 and also 4 x 6 = 24 ( this practices other facts). Play ten minutes or so and this fact should be cemented in. ( Hint not all rolls of the dice work. If you don't see a solution just roll again.)

Tags: your child, card down, child missed, child needs, keeps cards