A while back, I believe that you had an article on multiplication for those students who were not learning in traditional ways. You mentioned using three paper plates and five blocks to show 3 x 5 = 15 instead of rotely memorizing 3 x 5 = 15. Can you explain it again? I hope this helps my third grader who just doesn’t get multiplication.
— Parent
Whether students do or don’t get multiplication, the best way to acquaint them with the concept is through the use of pictures, drawings, and hands-on material. This gives them an understanding of what multiplication looks like, instead of drilling them to memorize the facts at the start. Later on, there is time to commit these facts to memory.
Here’s how the paper plate introduction to multiplication works. Have your children lay out three plates and place five blocks on each plate. Ask, “How many blocks did you use altogether?” Then have the children count the blocks. Repeat the activity using different combinations of plates and blocks.
Next, introduce the symbol for multiplication — “x,” the “times sign.” Use the symbol in a sample multiplication sentence, such as 2 x 3. This time use blocks. The height of the blocks is two and the length is three. The figure contains six blocks, so 2 x 3 = 6. Repeat this with other number combinations.
Now your children are ready to make multiplication cards, starting with 1 x 1 through 6 x 6 for younger children and continuing to 9 x 9 for older ones. Do not include the answers (products) on either the front or back of the card, as the products should be determined by the learner.
Go back to the plates and blocks and have the children select a multiplication card at random. If it is 3 x 5, for example, they should follow the same steps as they did earlier. They should count all the blocks and then write the fact 3 x 5 = 15. Work through all of the flash cards in this way.
Once children begin to learn some of the multiplication facts, they should write down the problem with the answer if they know it. If not, they can use the plates and blocks to determine it. This is better than you telling them what the answer is and is the first step in their learning of multiplication facts.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.
©Compass Syndicate Corporation, 2021