Teaching Multiplication

Does teaching multiplication bring to mind the dreaded flash cards of your youth? While flash cards provide a useful drill technique for basic multiplication facts, interactive lessons instill a greater understanding of the basic math operation.

Math manipulatives allow the kids to see the process of multiplication instead of simply memorizing the facts.

Counters come in many varieties. Educational supply stores sell commercial counters in a variety of styles. You can also purchase small toys such as bugs or animals that are similar in size to use as counters. Household items such as paper clips, toothpicks, beads or dry beans work just as well as the commercially produced counters and save on the budget.

The counters demonstrate how the two numbers function within a multiplication problem. Use the counters to work through the function. For example, the problem "three times eight" is represented by making three piles with eight counters in each pile. The child counts the objects and sees that the total number is 24. This visualization technique gives them a concrete reference when working on multiplication problems.

Counters also work to demonstrate the commutative property in multiplication, or the fact that the order of the numbers doesn’t matter. To illustrate this point, have the child make eight groups of three counters. When he counts the objects, he’ll find that the total is still 24.

Games enable you to sneak in learning activities in a fun format. Your kids may not even realize they are learning their multiplication facts while playing these games.

Dice provide the numbers for multiplication in this simple game. On each turn, the player rolls the dice and multiplies the two numbers that appear. The answer is recorded on a score sheet. The players continue taking turns, adding the products as you go. The first person to reach a total score of 100 when the products are added together is declared the winner.

For beginning multiplication learners, keep a pad of paper handy. Circles and stars corresponding with the numbers rolled depict the multiplication problem, making the product easier to find. For example, if the child rolls a three and a five, she would draw three circles with five stars inside each one. Counting the stars reveals the answer of 15.

A deck of playing cards serves as another game for teaching multiplication. Each card represents the numbers being multiplied for the purpose of the game. The face cards can represent 11, 12 and 13 if you wish to include those numbers in the game. Otherwise, remove them from the deck. Divide the stack of playing cards evenly between the two players. Both players flip over the top card at the same time. The first person to calculate the product of the two numbers displayed on the cards gets to keep both of them. The person with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

With two or more people to play the game, a beach ball becomes a learning tool. Before the game begins, you need to divide it into lots of small sections using a black permanent marker. The exact number of sections doesn’t matter. In each section, write a number. Game play begins with one person tossing the beach ball to another. The person who catches the ball multiplies the two numbers that are under her thumbs. She then tosses the ball to someone else or back to you if no other participants are available. The process is repeated, with the two numbers under your thumbs being multiplied.

Drill practice is the traditional approach to teaching basic multiplication facts. It involves repetitive review of the basic facts, typically using flashcards or multiplication table worksheets. While it isn’t the only method of teaching multiplication, it can offer a way to help children memorize the basic facts that come into play when multiplying larger numbers. Drill practice is a warm up for math class and it's also a good individual activity. If you homeschool more than one child, a set of multiplication flashcards can keep one child busy while you work with another.

Teaching multiplication using a variety of methods allows the kids to not only memorize the basic facts but understand the process as well. A mix of drill and interactive multiplication strategies provide the necessary tools for your kids.

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