How to Teach Multiplication

Multiplication is what many consider the third math. It's the math that most people learn after they learn addition and subtraction. The current way they teach multiplication has everything to do with memorization. The teachers give you a multiplication table, and then tell you it's just like addition. They set up a list of one number, we'll say 3, and then after the students add this up; which they already can do since they are taught "skip counting" (counting by specific numbers, i.e. 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, etc) . Then the students are told that this is the same, and then are expected to memorize the table through various exercises and half the year is spent learning multiplication. The other half of the year is spent learning division. I suggest another way of teaching multiplication.

Set out a number of one item, we'll say shoes. Ask the students to count the number of shoes there are. After they have counted these, ask them to set them up in pairs. Let's say you have 20 shoes. You'll have 10 pairs sitting there. Ask the students how many pairs are there, they will say 10.

Explain that you have 10 pairs, or 10 groups of 2. They will see that. Now ask them to put the shoes in groups of 4. They will push some shoes together, now ask them. How many groups do you have? They will tell you that there are 5. Lead their answer with: "groups of ___" they will say 4. . Remind them how many shoes there were, they will recount them and say 20. Therefore, 5 groups of 4 shoes and 10 groups of 2 shoes are 20 right? They will be tickled by this. Good, now ask them to take a way 2 shoes

After they have done that, ask them to put them in groups of 3. Do the same thing with the groups of 3, and then groups of 6. After those groups, ask them to put them in groups of 9. Now again pairs. You'll see that they are getting these ideas. You can do this until you feel they have grown tired. The more you do this, the more they will get that groups of things, and multiple group s of things equal certain numbers. You can do the entire table like this if you wanted, and the kids will cooperate with you.

Now write these things down. Ask them to draw their shoes, and write what you were talking about. Ask them to get into group and try to re,member what happened. They will write down everything that happened. Now explain that it is easier to count groups in this way. They will agree. Pass out some exercises that you might have to create, or if you can find counting groups and such. Explain that this is math. They will giggle and then begin a few more examples, but this time come up with two numbers and ask them to put themselves in this number and groups. These groups and amount of things/group will make easy sense to them.

Explain the table, don't tell them what that is though. Just tell them how to use it and what it looks like and it's a cheat sheet for what you have been showing therm. Now, and only now, write down the X that is the multiplication sign. Don't tell them that's what it is, tell them it means groups of. They will understand this, and with int 2-5 class periods you will have students that know how to do their multiplication like it's nothing.

I've used this on my own students and on my own children. They understand the concept so well, that to pull it together, and start giving the real words, is more simple than it ever was before. This is an invaluable lesson that will help your students more than any math they have learned.