Many children have a hard time learning the times tables, and as a parent you feel it is your duty to help them. After all, they need to know the times tables to succeed in school, college and in life. You will need time, planning and patience to teach your child about multiplication, while also making him feel satisfied that he succeeded.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Teaching the Basics
Step 1. Establish a time
Sit down with your child when both of you are ready to tackle the task. If you're worried about work, or your child is tired and hungry, things won't go smoothly. Stay together for half an hour and don't let anyone or anything distract you.
Energy and enthusiasm are very important to both of us. Turn off the cell phone, the TV and sit at the kitchen table with your child and with some snacks to munch, ready to face the multiplication tables
Step 2. Start with the 1, 2 and 3 times tables
When you have to memorize something, it is important to dissect the subject into small portions. Remember: your child doesn't have to count, just memorize. In fact it is assumed that he already knows the basics and the concept of multiplication.
- If the child does not know multiplications, propose them in the form of addition. Instead of 4 x 3 you propose 4 + 4 + 4.
- Ask him to get his math book and all the necessary materials. You need to know what study method your teacher follows.
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Prepare a table of numbers from 0 to 100. In this way you get the answers of the multiplications by crossing the rows with the columns, and quickly find the solutions to the multiplication tables.
Working with online multiplication tables takes a little more effort. You can ask your child to circle multiples of a certain number in pencil or to correlate each number to its multiples with colors
Step 3. Tell him how the commutative property can make things very simple
Show him how each solution repeats itself, so, theoretically, you only have to teach him half the times tables! 3x7 is the equivalent of 7x3. When he has learned the times tables of 0, 1, 2 and 3 in practice he will already be able to solve those of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
When the child has mastered the tables from 0 to 3, move on to those from 4 to 7, and then from 8 to 10. If he learns quickly you can continue with those of 11 and 12, and so on. Some teachers include some particularly difficult exercises in the tests in order to get a better grade
Step 4. Explain to him the logic behind the number table
Not everything has to be learned mechanically, without any clue or hint. The table helps you quickly find the solutions you are looking for.
- All multiples of 10 end in zero.
- All multiples of 5 end in 5 or 0 and half are multiples of 10.
- Any number multiplied by 0 results in zero.
Step 5. Now teach him the tricks
Fortunately, math offers shortcuts. A few tricks will favorably impress your child and help him.
- To memorize the 9 times table use your fingers. Open your hands with your palms down. For 9x1 lower your little finger. What are you showing? 9. For 9x2, lower your ring finger. What are you showing? The 1 and 8, 18. Now lower your middle finger and you will have 2 and 7, 27. This trick works up to 9x9 (show 8 and 1.81).
- If your child is able to double the numbers, the 4 times table will be simple. He will just have to double each number twice. For example, 6x4 is 6x2x2 so 12x2 that is 24. With this technique the answers will be automatic. It's all about memorizing.
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To multiply any value by 11 just duplicate the digit. 3x11 = 33, twice 3. 4x11 = 44, twice 4. The solution is the problem written twice.
If your child is a math genius you can teach him to multiply two-digit numbers by 11. For example 11x17, 17 is 1 and 7. Just add the two digits together and write the result in the middle that is: 1 + 7 = 8, the solution of 11x17 is 1 8 7
Part 2 of 4: Memorize Responses
Step 1. Practice
Now that your child has learned the basics of times tables, you need to exercise. Ask him questions at breakfast, during commercials, and for a few minutes before bed. As he gets better the answers will be faster and faster.
At first you follow the numerical order of the times tables, but over time it begins to jump from one to the other. In the first few days your child will be slow to solve, but he will get better and better
Step 2. Make the multiplication tables fun
At this point your child may ask you what is the use of learning all those numbers. Spice it up a bit and organize games and contests on the multiplication tables.
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Ask your child to make times tables cards. On the front of each card will be the problem and behind the solution. Rewriting the times tables will reinforce the memorization process. Use a timer to calculate how many cards he prepares in one minute. Will he be able to beat his record tomorrow?
You can play this game even with an empty table. This way you can also check which multiplications your child has the most difficulty with
- Get a deck of cards. The game is similar to UNO but you will have to do the multiplication. Divide the cards into two decks and place them in front of you with the numbers down, don't peek! The two players turn over a card simultaneously and must say the result of the multiplication between the two card values. The first to pronounce the correct answer takes both cards. Whoever takes all the cards from the other player wins. For example, if you turn the 7 and 5 the answer to yell will be 35. For the jack, queen and king use the values 11, 12 and 13, or assign them the value of 0 and remove them from the deck.
- Say a number, like 30. Your child has to list all combinations of multiplications that give 30, so 5x6, 3x10, and so on.
- Say a number and ask your child for their next multiple. For example say 30 and ask him what the next multiple of 6 is. Or start at 18 and ask him for the next two multiples of 9. You can also say 22 and ask for the multiple of 4, even if 22 is not a multiple of 4. Every now and then you do of the pitfalls.
- Play a multiplication bingo. Your child has to fill in a 6x6 grid with the numbers he prefers. You say "5 x 7". If your child has 35 on his grill then he can circle him. It continues as if it were a normal bingo, except that the "extracted" numbers are to be calculated in the form of multiplication. What prize will you be giving away?
Part 3 of 4: Reward the Child
Step 1. Use incentives
Don't use money or material things, you could ruin his love of learning. Of course, treats, drinks, and other little things your child likes are always great ideas.
Save the bigger prizes for school testing. When he can do well under pressure, it means he has learned well
Step 2. Praise your child
Don't forget to take breaks and have fun with him between lessons. If you are happy with his results, he will want to be even better. Show him how proud you are with praise.
If it learns slower than you anticipated, relax. Negativity never helps and you may be intimidating. A bad mood could kill his learning skills. Encourage him to apply
Step 3. Take breaks
No child learns by studying for hours. When his attention level drops, take a break. You probably need it too.
After a break, quickly review what you have studied so far, and continue with the next times tables
Part 4 of 4: Check Progress
Step 1. Use online media
When pen and paper are out of the way and the first difficulties are gone, find more difficult quizzes and games on the internet to see your child's level.
Of course, you can also write the questions yourself, which is a commendable endeavor, but if you have a PC you can make it feel more like a game than a test
Step 2. Ask him about his grades
If you've done a lot of work at home, how are you going to school now? If your child doesn't spontaneously tell you, ask him! He will be proud of his good grades, and if they are not what you thought, keep working for the next test.
It is also a good idea to ask for an interview with the teacher. An involved parent is always appreciated
Advice
- Try to teach according to the method followed at school. If you have learned the times tables with a different method, try to follow that of the school anyway. If it works, continue with this, otherwise try different teaching techniques.
- Be kind and patient. If necessary, work on a single table for a couple of days until the child understands it.
- Advanced level: the squares of the tens are very similar to those of the units, in fact the square of 1 is 1 and the square of 10 is 100. It will be very easy to see that the square of 20 is 400, of 30 is 900 and of 40 is 1600 etc …
- Pushing too fast towards very large numbers can be confusing and frustrating for the child. Take your time and try to make learning the times tables easy, without losing sight of the goal. Don't be afraid to increase the level gradually, even if only slightly.
- Emphasize that, as in addition, the order of the factors does not change the result, so 2 x 3 = 6, and 3 x 2 = 6.
Warnings
- Don't ask never to your child as "stupid", "lazy", or any other such epithet. Do not use these terms to identify the child, yourself or the textbooks.
- Do not tire your child trying to learn too many lines or patterns at the same time. Don't forget to laugh and take some breaks.
- Remember that the baby shouldn't really count. Quick answers are only obtained through memorization. Knowing how to count allows you to understand what you are doing in the early stages, but then it should no longer be necessary.
