HELP YOUR
CHILD ACE HIS NEXT MULTIPLICATION QUIZ
It's not unusual for children to have trouble learning the multiplication
facts. Fortuantely, you can help if you are willing to work with your child
every day. For the best results, keep drill sessions short, review learned
facts frequently, and don't teach a new set of facts until your child has
completely memorized the previous set. Begin by doing the following:
1. Make a set of multiplication flash cards with your child. Do not include
the answers on the cards.
2. Work with one set of multiplication facts at a time (2x1, 2x2, 2,3, 2x4
etc.)
3. Next, work with the set of multiplication facts that has 2 as a second
factor (1x2, 2x2, 3x2, 4x2 etc) Remind your child that these facts are
equivalent to addition doubles.
4. In the next session, work with the 5x tables. Start with 5 as the first
factor (5x1, 5x2, 5x3) then tackle 5 as the second factor (1x5, 2x5, 3x5).
5. For some children, it helps to recognize patterns when they exist within
each set of multiplication facts.
6. To help your child with the 4x tables, you can teach her the "double and
then double again" approach. For example, 4x3=12 because double 3 is 6 and
double again is 12; 4x4=16 because double 4 is 8 and double again is 16, and
so on.
7. To help your child with his 9x talbes, you can teach him the -1 approach.
For example, 2x9=18 because 2-1 is 1 and 9-1 is 8; put them together and you
get 18. Similarly, 3x9=27 because 3-1 is 2 and 9-2 is 7; put them together and
you get 27.
When your child doesn't know a fact, don't tell him the answer - answers that
come easily are not retained. Instead, show him how to get the answer. For
example, if he doesn't know 3x4 them have him draw three groups of four and
count them up.