Sunday, February 13, 2011
chapter 2
In order for students to gain understanding in learning the strategies of multiplication, it requires numerous lessons providing various manipulatives. Students needs to "see" how multiplication works! Drawing arrays and using symbols as the factors to determine the product helps in visualizing this mathematical process. Writing and illustrating multiplication stories, as well as, incorporating the proper vocabulary is also beneficial. Multiplication is a learning process that needs to be taught and not merely introduced. Students will learn the rules and how to take the proper "short cuts" in obtaining the correct results. Understanding and mastering the rules of certain tables is essential. Any number multiplied by 0 is always 0, any number multiplied by 1 is always the other number. Knowing that the 2's table is repeated addition, and knowing how to square a factor helps the learning and understanding process. It is not just memorizing the flashcards. The nines trick is helpful to all learning styles. Using counters and dice is also essential for learners to visualize the outcome. Flashcards are needed, as is, verbal response. Chanting and listing the first 12 multiples of the tables is constant reinforcement and a productive way to open up a math lesson. Constant revisiting and setting up a center for math facts has been successful. There are various picture books to read aloud and for students to enjoy when introducing multiplication and throughout the unit.
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2 comments:
Yes, I totally agree that the arrays are a wonderful tool to help them remember what multiplication looks like, it is also very helpful when they learn to multiply those larger numbers and can then chuck what they know easily from the picture/array such as 26 X 13 they can see 20 X 10 and 20 X 3 and then 6 X 10 and 6 X 3. Then add those products to answer a more difficult multiplication question.
A game I use to use with my third graders was Circle and Stars. You decide ahead of time how many rounds to play. I usually used the "math" paper and folded it into a booklet. Students roll the die once. They draw that many cirles on their paper. They roll the die again and draw that many stars within each circle. Then they create the multiplication equation under the picture. The partner follows the same process. The student with the highest product wins. Students have a good visual model and a strategy that they can use when faced with an unknown multiplication fact. Lots of Boxes is a similar game using arrays.
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