When it comes to teaching multiplication, the truth is, often times students struggle. Introducing flash cards for each fact is just not enough to insure that students really understand the concept of multiplication. Each child that enters our classrooms will have their own unique way of learning which is why it is so important that we are prepared to teach different strategies to solve a multiplication equation.
Let's look at some easy strategies (that require no prep for you) to help your students master the concept of multiplication.
TEACH ONE FACT AT A TIME
Where do you start? Introducing all the facts at one time can make learning them all seem impossible. Start with the basics- introduce the facts of 2 (2 x 0 through 2 x 12) and give students time to work on the strategies with just these facts. Students have been skip counting by 2's for years usually by the time they are ready to learn multiplication, and you may be tempted to skip teaching this. However, by starting with something familiar, you are setting your students up for success.
REPEATED ADDITION
One of the easiest ways to begin teaching multiplication is to connect it to repeated addition. Addition is an operation your students will already be familiar with, and it is the basic building block of multiplication. It is helpful to have your students write out the multiplication fact along with the repeated addition fact it represents. For example: 2 x 3 is the same as 2 + 2 + 2 or 3 + 3 for the inverse.
ARRAYS
After students practice with repeated addition, move on to teaching arrays. Using arrays is a good way to model repeated addition as each row can be seen as an equal group of objects. Using arrays not only provides a visual model of each multiplication fact, but it also builds on the concept of area. Who doesn't love when you can teach two skills at once?
COMMUTATIVE PROPERTY
Just like addition, multiplication is commutative. This means the order of the factors in an equation doesn't change the answer (products). Teach your students that if they know for example, the product of 7 x 8 is 56 then the product of 8 x 7 is also 56.
SKIP COUNTING
Skip counting is another way to show the patterns involved in multiplication. Skip counting is a pretty easy skill to practice, and can be done orally or on a number line. When thinking about number sense, skip counting helps students see patterns within sets of numbers. The more patterns they know or can make, the easier it is for them to make generalizations about how numbers work.
PATTERNS ON A 100's CHART
Showing students the patterns made on a hundreds chart is another way to build number sense. When students use a 100's chart and shade in the multiples for each fact, they begin to see patterns within each fact. For example, students may notice that all the factors of 2 end with a 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. Students can also see the relationships between 2 sets of facts. For example, students might notice that all the factors of 9 are also factors of 3. You can also tie in skip counting with the 100's chart. Once students have shaded in the factors for a given number, they can use their chart to practice orally skip counting forward and then backwards. Added bonus - that backwards skip counting can set the stage for learning about division.
FACT FAMILIES
Once students have the basic understanding of multiplication (multiplication is repeated addition), they are ready to start digging in to fact families.
Students have practiced fact families with addition and subtraction, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will see the related facts with multiplication and division. If students realize that related facts belong together, there will be fewer facts they will need to memorize.
PRACTICE DRILLS
After the all too important foundational "concept learning" of multiplication (building arrays, skip counting, etc.), students will be ready to move on to memorizing the facts. The goal here is that students will know the products of the basic math facts, and be able to recall them quickly and accurately. Not all students will move to this next step at the same time. Some students may never ever reach this step, and that is ok. If students have a true understanding of multiplication, they can use the strategies they have learned to solve a multiplication equation. Speed is not always the outcome when learning multiplication, but it sure will help those students ready for it.
MAKE IT FUN!
I think this may be the most important strategy.
Just practicing the multiplication facts over and over is boring! One of my favorite ways to make learning fun is by turning the concept into a game. When students are playing games, they don't even realize they are learning. In my book, that's a win for everyone!
Hopefully you have learned some fun ways to help teach multiplication! All of these of these ideas are included in my Multiplication Worksheet & Game Practice for Facts 2-12 bundle found on TpT. If you are in need of a digital (a.k.a. NO GRADING) way to practice fact fluency check out my Multiplication Boom Decks. Use these ideas to reinforce your math lessons and watch your students understanding of multiplication grow.
