Tips and Tricks for Learning Multiplication

Learning Multiplication

Even the biggest math whiz in the world might get tripped up when it’s time to start learning multiplication! It’s a complex concept that is not always taught in a way that is intuitive or easy to understand.

Some students struggle because there is an emphasis placed on memorizing facts. Others lack the background in the prerequisite skills necessary to understand the purpose of the operation.

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Multiplication is one of the four operations essential for succeeding in higher mathematics. Luckily, there are many ways to learn multiplication. Just because your child is struggling now doesn’t mean they’ll be behind forever!

Read on to learn some tips for learning multiplication that will help you put an end to the tears at homework time.

What Exactly Is Multiplication?

Many children struggle with multiplication because they don’t understand its purpose. When a child cannot create a mental model that helps them visualize quantities, it is very hard to multiply quickly. Teachers developed the CCSS to help students become better at mental math, but some children still struggle.

Sometimes this is because they are still in a phase of development that requires concrete thinking. That means your child may not yet be ready to make and sustain mental models involving larger numbers. This is when tactile tools like manipulatives come in handy.

No matter what, before you get into how to learn multiplication, you need to make sure your child understands what multiplication does. In essence, multiplication is another way to do addition. One of the best multiplication tips is simply to make sure your child grasps that relationship before you move on.

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Making Multiplication Tactile

There are a lot of great tools that you can use to help make multiplication tactile or visual. One of the first lessons in multiplication involves using an array model, also known as an area model. You can demonstrate the array model using a toy you might already have at home: a Lego!

Have your child count the number of circles along the side of the Lego, then have them count the number of circles along the top. Write those numbers down as a multiplication sentence. Show your child that they can find the answer to the problem by counting the total number of circles on the Lego brick!

What other array models can your child find around the house? Encourage them to use these representations to visualize what it means to multiply.

Making Multiplication Visual

Multiplication charts are an excellent tool for visual learners. Rather than giving your child a multiplication table as a “cheat sheet,” provide opportunities to engage with it. This is especially helpful if your child is artistic.

Have them circle all of the odd numbers and look for patterns. From there, see if they can find the diagonal symmetry pattern. They can use colors to make their understanding of these patterns visual.

This can serve as a memory aid. More importantly, it can help children become more aware of the relationships between numbers. This helps when multiplying, adding, and eventually dividing.

Learning Multiplication Can Be Fun

Every child is different, and the way they understand and visualize quantities varies. You can learn a lot about your child’s mathematical thinking as they begin learning multiplication. Using tactile and visual aids are great strategies that can help make the process of learning multiplication easy and fun!

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