teaching multiplication to a 7 year old?

Question

My daughter is having trouble learning her multiplication tables. Does anyone know a relaxing way of teaching them? Thanks.

Answer 1

flash cards......make it a fun game..........it works

Answer 2

There are a number of cassettes and CDs out there that put the multiplication tables into a rap or musical tunes. Even if you just make up a chant to learn them that would help. Start with the 2s, 5s, and 10s. Then go to the 3s and 4s. Write them as she says or sings them, also, because that gets more than one learning mode involved. Also, don't push her too hard. At 7, she is still ahead on learning this standard. She needs to know her multiplication tables by the end of 3rd grade, when she will be closer to 9 and more mentally developed. If she is still having trouble with the 7s, 8s by the end of 3rd grade, then work more to memorize them. But make it all a game right now. Don't sweat it.

As an aside - does she know her addition and subtraction facts well? These should be mastered before she attempts her mulitplication facts.

Answer 3

I would say start teaching her the easiest tables first: 2's, 5's, and 9's. (Remember for the 9's the answer always adds up to 9)Then once shes gets comfortable with those move on to the harder ones. Most kids have trouble with the 6's, 7's, and 8's.

You can also try index cards or computer games which can teach math in a fun way.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Group 4 red lego blocks together on the kitchen table and call it a "set". To teach multiply by 3, simply tell the student to repeat a set of 4 red lego blocks three times. Ask the student to place 3 other sets of 4 red lego blocks each somewhere else on the table. Finally, point to the original group (set) of blocks and say "4 times 3 means to repeat the set of 4 three times". Then have the student count all the blocks in the 3 sets they placed on the table to get the multiplication of 4 times 3, or 12 blocks.

Answer 5

Take the flash cards with you everywhere you go....If she can't get the right away... let her see the answer and put it back in the pile. As you come across the ones she knows very easily, take them out of the pile. Gradually she will see the pile get smaller and smaller and the problems she has a hard time with will come more often allowing her more practice. She can do it herself while she is riding in the car, on the bus, etc. If there is a big "why?" question, show her using stones, or torn up pieces of paper or even m&m's... like "Why is 3x4 = 12" you lay down four piles of three and let her count them all out. She will think you are really smart ;-)

Answer 6

Make sure she understands the principals of addition and subtraction first. There are some cool facts that you can share with her. For example, did you know that if you add the product of nines you get nine? (9*9= 81) add the product (8+1=9) this is a good way to check your answers. Make songs, chants, or raps up and sing them in the car- you can use familiar tunes. There are great Internet sites: cool math.com and there is a flashcard builder abcteach.com. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

My teacher explained by saying: 2 x 3 was 2 groups of 3 and used real-life examples. We had blocks all the same size and put them into the groups. Then we added up the number of items in all the groups total.

For example:
2 groups of 3
2 groups of 3 blocks in group
3+3=6
2x3=6

You could also use flashcards and have her review them twice a day or more.

Answer 8

Schoolhouse Rock! - Multiplication Rock (1973)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569494096/ref=imdbpov_vhs_0/102-2629990-9728914?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=404272

Answer 9

My father made me blocks of wood and I painted numbers on them. My daugher would roll the wood, the 2 on top she had to multiply. I did not give her a time limit, she worked it out on her own even if some did take all night for her to figure out.

And make it a game. Games children remember, multiplication tables they do not.

Answer 10

all great suggestions..... also when you go to the store or see some real life situation of multiplication talk .... perhaps you need 3 packs of something and they cost a certain amount of money.... that is an example of multiplication..... or perhaps you see a pattern in a building..... there are five windows and 10 stories on a particular building, how many windows are there..... if you give real life context to math perhaps your daughter may understand it more.

Answer 11

I used rhymes when ever possible. Like 6 x 6 is 36 in a little jingle. I also used flash cards with my kids, it takes time, but the repetition is wonderful for memorizing!