One of the biggest obstacles in math for many of my students is that they do not know their multiplication facts. They spend time and exert energy finding the same products over and over again. Their lack of fact fluency has a negative impact on their ability to learn new skills. For this reason, I focus on multiplication fact fluency starting the first week of school!
Here are some of my favorite ways to help students memorize multiplication facts!
Fun Ways to Promote Multiplication Fact Fluency
What’s Your Name?
What’s Your Name? is a huge hit! For one day, students change their name to a multiplication problem. Then they only respond when someone says the product. For example, if I wear a label that says 8 x 7, all day long I only respond to Mrs. 56. Students think it is hilarious and make everyone call them by their new name.
A FREE “Hello My Name Is” printable is available (I Teach What’s Your Superpower – Megan Favre) to create your own labels.
Timed Tests
I love using time tests to help students monitor their progress. My students love them too! I think it is because I make a show by celebrating their accomplishments. I with neither confirm nor deny that I grab their hand and run around the room with them “singing” the Rocky theme music when they pass a level. They love it! These Multiplication and Division Timed Tests provide 15 different timed tests with 50 facts on each test to provide extra practice. My favorite part is the student tracker. This enables students to take pride in their growth and graph their progress.
Songs
My students love to sing/listen to multiplication songs. The songs reach learners in different ways. They help them learn the multiples of a number which in turn increases their recall of multiplication facts. Here is a catchy hip-hop series of songs from YouTube. These songs focus on multiples of 6, 7, 8, and 9. I find these to be the ones students take the longest to master.
Coloring
When you pull out the color crayons, students forget they are working. This also applies when coloring during math class. I love Missing Digit Multiplication Color By Number for independent practice, center activities, or homework.
Digital Bingo
Multiplication bingo is great. DIGITAL multiplication bingo is amazing! Using Google Classroom you can “pass” out the boards and markers with the click of a button. Students love playing bingo and teachers love how easy digital bingo games are to use! Read all about using digital bingo games with your class here!
Multiplication Puzzles
I love changing around my center activities. Multiplication facts puzzles make several appearances throughout the year. The puzzles are amazing because they are self-checking and students love the challenge of matching the pieces.
Fact Fluency is Important!
Students who know their facts are able to focus on the complexities of the standard you are working on. When students don’t know their facts, they have to first solve the “simple” problems before even getting to the “real” problems. For them, the simple problems are not that simple. This adds time and stress to the learning activity. Students can develop a low self-esteem about math. How many times have you heard a student say, “I’m not good at math” before they even try? Reach these learners by meeting them where they are and providing support to get them where they need to be.
I would love to hear from you! What activities or strategies have you used in your classroom to promote fact fluency? Leave a note in the comments.
I love the “What’s Your Name?” activity and Digital Bingo boards! My third graders always struggle with memorizing their facts. I can’t wait to try some of these ideas with them this year. Thanks for all the amazing suggestions!