Favorite way to memorize multiplication tables?

[Gentlemommy]

And at what age/grade is this expected? Dd can skip count 2, 5, and 10's. We just did 3's today, and she is 99% on those. I figure if she can skip count, memorizing those tables will be easy. What's your preferred method/curriculum?

[boscopup]

I expect them memorized before we get to long division (which is typically 4th grade sometime). My oldest learned them at 7, since that's when he was doing 4th grade math. He learned most of them by just going through our regular curriculum (Math Mammoth at the time), but I did need to drill a little bit to cement them. I printed out the 5 minute drills at math-drills.com, just one table a at time - had him work for 5 minutes and skip any he didn't know right away. When we did the x3's, he skipped all the 3x6 and 3x8, so as I was going over it, I asked him those questions orally. By the end of going over that sheet, he knew 3x6 and 3x8. ;)

 

Note that this was AFTER he had learned the concept of multiplication and had played with it for a while. I don't personally worry about memorizing until after we've gone through the learning process of what multiplication is and such, which is typically done in 3rd grade math curricula (or 2nd for some programs).

[Wildiris]

I didn't choose multiplication memorization for my youngest DD. Instead I taught her how to add and double, for example the 4x4=4+4=8, then double eight. I started with all the multiples of 0,1,2,3 etc. Obviously the rule of 0 and 1 need to be taught. I used skip counting to show its relationship to multiplication. Apex Math does a better job of explaining this than I do.

[mystika1]

We make skip counting songs. This week was 9's. She would skip count by 9's backwards and forwards to the tune of Yankee Doodle. After three days of that, I then started asking her "what is 9 x __?" She was answering so fast that no further drill is needed. We started 8's today. My dd is 9.

 

Penny

[Crimson Wife]

In terms of when they are expected, California has the 2's, 5's, and 10's on the 2nd grade standard and the rest on the 3rd grade standard. Singapore Primary Math has the 2's and 3's in 2A and the 4's, 5's, and 10's in 2B. The rest are in 3A. Right Start has fact practice start for all the tables up to 10 in Level C (2nd grade for most students) and expects mastery in D.

[dbmamaz]

definitely wait until after they've been counting it out on their fingers doing addition to get to the product. My older one really struggled and we used Memorize in Minutes, which is story based and visual. Eventually, tho, i just let him use a times tables and he did better and better over time. my younger one likes timez attacks - but it stressed out my older one too much. my younger one also liked math ninja, on the ipad

[Heidi]

Preferred method: xtramath.com

 

It's great. I say, "Hey kid, did you do your xtramath yet? No? Then go do it!" And then they do, every day. Magically they learn all of their facts. I love it.

[prissygirls]

My girls learned them in CC this year in 6 weeks with the skip counting songs. It was amazing!!!

[shanvan]

I used my own method (which probably isn't really my own). I made up my own daily drill sheets with skip counting (missing some of the numbers in the sequence for Dc to fill in) to complete at the top of the page and multiplication problems to complete at the bottom. I started with one worksheet on 2's and once those facts appeared mastered, I moved to 3's etc. I allowed Dc to look at the skip counting to find the answer if necessary, but each problem (from x2 up to x11) repeated multiple times. Then I progressed to worksheets without the skip counting at the top and made sure to repeat each fact 3-4 times on a worksheet. I made 2-3 drill sheets for the same set of facts using different order so I could rotate b/t them and not always use the same worksheet. I also created drill sheets that included facts for both 2's & 3's, and even mixed w/ 4's once I thought Dc could handle having the facts mixed. Special snacks usually followed the drill sheet.

 

In addition, my Dc used Math u See online drill to reinforce whichever set of facts were currently emphasized in daily drill. I told them which facts to select for practice.

 

I also drilled out loud daily looking for instant recall. I put a check either in pencil or pen if the fact was answered quickly. Once the fact had a certain number of checks next to it I placed a star for Dd (who like the stars and found them motivating). The fact needed to have quite a few checks before I moved on to focusing on other facts, and even then I'd go back over the checked off ones periodically to make sure recall was still instant. Later drill sheets included a mixture of facts Dc had been slow to recall during out loud drill. I do the same with division. The out loud drilling made me aware of just exactly which facts were a problem and I could tailor future worksheets to address weaknesses. I could also write a couple of facts on the dry erase board in our kitchen and even ask Dc about them randomly throughout the day.

 

I've tried various drill programs, but none of them were specific enough to address each of my Dc's specific weaknesses. I found that though it was time consuming at first, this method was actually the most efficient way to solidify facts.

[birchbark]

Times Tales.