Marvelous Multiplication: Strategies to Help Teach Multiplication

Marvelous Multiplication: Strategies to Help Teach Multiplication

Jessica BishopECED 7259

What is Multiplication?

• Multiplication is an arithmetic operation that increases the quantity of numbers.

• Multiplication can also be described as adding a certain number as many times as is described by another number. (For example: 3x2 can be shown as 2+2+2.)

2nd grade Strategy• A strategy that can be helpful when introducing

multiplication facts is coming up with rhymes to teach the facts. Here are some of the rhymes:

• 2x2=4 Two shoes kicked the door, two times two equals four. • 3x4=12 One - two - three - four, One-two is three times four. • 3x8=24 A  tree on skates fell on the floor, three times eight is

twenty-four. • 5x5=25 Two fives jump off the high dive, five times five is twenty-

five. • 6x8=48 Six asked eight for a date, six times eight is forty-eight. • 7x7= 49 7x7 is 49, you are cool, you are fine! • 7x8=56 Five - six - seven - eight, Fifty-six is seven times eight. • 8x8=64 Eight times eight is sixty-four, Shut your mouth and say

no more. • 9x9=81 He stood in line and ate a ton, nine times nine is eighty-

one.

2nd grade Strategy cont’d

Pros

• It is easy to implement into a classroom.

• Rhymes are pre-made.

• The students will be able to remember their facts using the rhymes.

Cons

• There are few rhymes.

• The rhymes are for “easy” facts.

• The children may feel the rhymes are “babyish”, and therefore not want to use that system.

3rd grade Strategy

• The third grade strategy allows students to have the nines’ multiplication facts at their fingertips:

• Put both hands out, if the problem is 9x5, bend the fifth finger down and that finger will act as the barrier between the tens and ones place. On the left of the bent finger will be four fingers, and on the right will be five. The answer is 45.

3rd grade Strategy cont’d

Pros

• It is easy for the students to use.

• Not time consuming.

• Is useful for a more difficult set of multiplication facts.

Cons

• It can only be used for one set of multiplication facts.

4th grade Strategy

• For fourth grade the strategy is helpful when multiplying a 2- or 3-digit number by a one digit number.

• If the problem is 34x9 this is how it will

look when multiplied by using expanded notation:

• 30x9= 270 4x9=36, the students then add 270, and 36. The answer is 306.

4th grade Strategy cont’d

Pros

• Multiplying 30 x 3 and adding it to 4 x 3 may be easier than 34 x 3.

• Can also be used to practice expanded notation.

Cons

• Students may want to multiply the two products instead of adding them together.

References• Burns, M. (2007). Nine Ways to Catch Kids Up. Educational

Leadership, 65, 16-21.• Caron, T.A. (2007). Learning Multiplication: The Easy Way. Clearing

House, 80, 285-291.• Charles, R. & Duckett P. (2008). Focal Points: Grades 3 and 4.

Teaching Children Mathematics, 14, 466-471.• Hartley, H. (2008). Multiply the Fun. Times Educational

Supplement, 4804, 9.• Lemaire, P. & Siegler, R.S. (1995). Four Aspects of Strategic Change:

Contributions to Children’s Learning of Multiplication. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 124, 83- 97.

• Maletsky, E.M. (2008). Harcourt Math. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.• Rhyming to Teach the Times Tables. (2007). Retrieved April

21, 2009 from Multiplication.com Web site: http://www.multiplication.com

• Van de Walle, J.A. & Lovin, L.H. (2006). Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics (Vol. 1, pp.124- 129) Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

• Woodward, J. (2006). Developing Automaticity in Multiplication Facts: Integrating Strategy Instruction with Timed Practice Drills. Learning Disability Quarterly, 29, 269-290.