| One of the challenges of elementary school math, | | | | twelve-side die, and then the other, and giving the |
| usually around third grade, is learning multiplication | | | | product of the two numbers rolled as quickly as |
| tables. For numbers 5 and smaller, it's relatively | | | | possible. His goal was to become quick enough to |
| easy for most children to just add to the last | | | | beat me to the answer. Other times, he played a |
| result as they learn their multiplication tables. The | | | | solo version with a timer in that he had to be able |
| adding trick in reciting multiplication tables gets a | | | | to do a certain number of throws and answer |
| bit more challenging when the child reaches the | | | | them all within a minute while I kept track of his |
| multiplication tables for 6, 7, 8 and 9. Then, even | | | | answers. |
| when he or she can recite the multiplication tables | | | | For parents who don't have the time, there are |
| in order, can the child really answer the question, | | | | several software programs for children which |
| "what's seven times eight?" quickly. Success in | | | | effectively incorporate the same types of |
| being able to multiply quickly becomes critical in | | | | multiplication games to speed up a child's |
| the later grades when the child is multiplying three | | | | computation skills. If you want to ensure that |
| and four digit numbers, and then learning division | | | | your child has the math skills and speed to do well |
| and using the same knowledge and processes in | | | | later on in algebra and more advanced math, add |
| reverse. So what you can you do speed up your | | | | games which reinforce math skills in a fun way to |
| child's multiplication skills and reinforce their | | | | your curriculum. This is especially important for |
| knowledge of the multiplication tables? | | | | children who are not big fans of math textbooks. |
| One idea I used with my own child was to find a | | | | Make at least one day of math learning per week |
| set of twelve-side dice (or make your own with | | | | a day to let your child experience math as fun |
| four regular dice, by just adding extra dots to | | | | and not as tedious problems that need to be |
| two of them and rolling one 12-dot set at a time). | | | | solved. |
| We would play competitively, rolling one | | | | |