Multiplication, the old friend that brings us back to the days of chalk dust and recess bells! As you gear up for the rest of the year of shaping young minds, we are here to guide you through the maze of multiplication factors. Get ready, because today, we’re about to decode the clever sequence for teaching them!
Multiplication by Factors 1-4
The Mighty Ones: We all know that multiplying by 1 is like giving your math problem a little boost. Start here to instill the idea that anything multiplied by 1 remains itself.
Doubles: After understanding the magic of one, introduce the concept of doubling. Kids love a good symmetry puzzle, and what’s more symmetric than 2 x 2?
Threes: Triangles and Multiples: Now that we’ve got the hang of doubling, let’s introduce 3. Use the concept of triangles to make it visual. Three is like a magical triangle number – ask them to draw triangles with 3 sides (and you’ll sneak in a bit of geometry too)!
Click here for multiplication games you can use all year long!
Fours: By now, students are becoming multiplication experts, so add 4 to the mix. Talk about squares and how 4 is like the square root of 16. Challenge them to find square numbers!
Multiplication by Factors – 5,6,7, & 8
Time to meet the high-fiving number 5! Kids probably know their 5 times table from counting on their fingers. Emphasize that multiplying by 5 is a piece of cake.
Sixes and Sevens: Once they’ve mastered 5, introduce 6 and 7 together. Make it a fun competition – which is quicker, counting by 6 or 7?
Eights: Kids might find it tricky, but remind them that 8 is like 2 doubled twice. And when you double twice, you make a great escape from smaller numbers into bigger ones!
Winding up!
Nines: Now that you’ve covered most of the territory, introduce 9 with its magical properties. Teach them about the 9 times table and how the digits in the answers add up to 9! Don’t miss teaching this fun fact! 🙂
Tens: It’s the easiest of them all, and it’ll give your students a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it sets them up to understand place value!
Read about Math Fact Fluency here.
Click here for multiplication games you can use all year long!
Remember, the key is to make learning fun and engaging. Use props, visuals, and interactive activities to bring these multiplication factors to life.
Wishing you a great school year ahead!
Looking for time-saving tips and tricks for teaching math and ESL? Sign up for my email newsletter to get free teaching resources and helpful strategies right in your inbox! Click here to sign up.