4th grade math?

Question

Can anyone give me some ideas of how to help my son memorize his multiplication tables? We use flash cards but he can't seem to get that 2x9 is the same as 9x2 and forgets the answer, and it really frustrates him. Any ideas on how to help him would be appreciated. He's 10 and in 4th grade.

Answer 1

You 1st need to teach him the whole adding. For example, if you ask hin 5x2 you should 1st tell him that the 'x' mark is for doubling. 2nd, the 2nd # in the factors should be the number doubled. Like, in the '5x2', tell him that 5 should be doubled. 2 times. Understand? It;s like turning to addition. so if the 5 should be doubled '2 times' it's just like you need to add 2-fives.

Like, 9x2. Tell him that the #2 should make 'two nines'. So, it's like 9+9=18. So that's it! Teach him my tip... easy & turned to addition!! XD

At the summer, you need to make him learn the real multiplication, not the addition cheat. Ok???

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Do you use just the regular printed flashcards?
People always seem to be talking about the different kind of learners there are and how some people learn better by
listening, doing, reading, or speaking...

What about printing the time tables out on the computer and cutting them up... take the 9 from the pile and the 18... have him physically take the 2 and put it into the spot. Or just put the 18 down and let him figure out different ways of getting to it.

You could put them to a rhythm and chant them....
if you make up a silly dance, or storyline, that would also help him remember.

When he reads the cards, what if all the numbers had a different color... for example 1 was always red, 2 green, 3 yellow.... so then when he reads the cards there is that extra association of red X yellow is the same as yellow X red

maybe everyday you could ask him questions.. but in a situation where he doesn't realize you are actually trying to get him to remember the times tables say...
Hey Ben (for example),
How many students are in your swim class on Saturday?
10? Oh... Did you know there is a class on Tuesday too...
So if the teachers see 10 students in a class 2 times a week... that makes 20 students.
(okay, so maybe that was a bad example....)

try and think of a game that can be adapted to include the time tables... but that has a strategy to it... so that he wants to beat you.. and the only way is to remember the time tables

hope this helps... even somewhat!

Answer 3

do a web search on "timez attack". there's a free download and it's pretty fun for a fourth grader (check it out first to make sure it's not too violent for your family, it does involve fighting ogres and robots and such by getting the right answer fast enough....). the pay version has totally different graphics for the different levels

edit -- also, you can give him some hints, if they haven't already done that at school. 10s, for example, are easy because you just add a 0. 9s are easy because you just multiply by 10 and then subtract the number you're multiplying by 9. once you know the 2s, the fours are just double that (ditto for the 3s and 6s). and if you know a x b, then you also know b x a. When you use tricks like that, there isn't so much rote memorization required.

Answer 4

Just keep practicing with him, eventually he will pick it up. When I was in 3rd grade, we learned how to multiply and the best thing the teacher did for us, was make a large chart, put it on the wall, test us frequently, and just kept us working on it. Another thing to do may be to tell your son to reverse the numbers on his work or tests.. For Instance, if there is a problem 9x2..tell him to write it down in reverse... so he will have..2x9.. maybe that would help him a bit.
Good Luck! =)

Answer 5

My son is in 4th grade and we just keep doing the flash cards until he memorizes it. It's hard for them to memorize this; however let him do this on paper. TIME HIM. Say give him 15 problems and let him have 10 min. to do as many as he can. Some kids just do better on paper than by site. Try it. We did and it seems that our son does much better on paper than just the flash cards. We still use the flash cards from time to time...however we also got a new program for his computer. It's a math game....you can find those here:
http://shop.knowledgeadventure.com/Products/Math-Blaster-Ages-9-12__20144.aspx
There's many more programs for his age that you can find.
Some are free to download - however we have never chose that option.

Answer 6

Repeat, repeat, repeat....it is the only way to learn them. It will just take a lot of time and patience. Try finding an example of how something is the same either way that he can relate to...something like if he he has an apple and an orange it is the same thing as having an orange and an apple....same thing but apple is said first one time then orange is said first the second time...either way he still has both...know what I mean? Then just say it is the same with the numbers....if you are saying 2 x 9 it is the same as 9 x 2...they are the exact same numbers but just in a different order.

Answer 7

Have you tried using manipulatives to help him see that they are the same? Some kids need to hold counting cubes and see them right on the table in front of them to make that connection. My boys, on the other hand, hate that sort of thing. You could also try searching for some websites that have games to practice the times tables. It may be more interesting than just doing flash cards.

Answer 8

I have a trick for 9x anything.
hold up all 10 of your fingers. 9x2
start at your left hand and hold down 2nd finger. anything to the left of the finger represents 10's anything to the right represents ones' so 9x2 =18. now try 9 times 6. if you start on your left hand and count 6 fingers you will be holding down your right thumb. again anything to the left counts as 10's and to the left is ones so 9 x6=54.
hope this makes sense to you.

Answer 9

We do timed tests and also have a CD that is called "Multiplication Rap".

Repetition will help him more than anything.

Focus perhaps, on one number a day or two days. Let tomorrow be a "2" day. and drill, drill, drill "2 X 1=, 2x2=, 2x3=" and then follow on down the line.

Let me know if you need any resources. I can try to email you some things and possibly the song if you want.

Good luck!

Answer 10

Practice.. practice often. Memorizing them is going to be the easiest way... you can try to explain to him that if there are 2 rows containing 9 apples each, it is the same as 9 rows containing 2 apples each... but he isn't necessarily going to remember right away. Try not to switch the order at first. Just begin by practicing this 1's, then 2's, and so on until he remembers them all.

Answer 11

write his times tables on posters and also the opposite eg 2x9=18 and 9x2=18 next to each other and then stick on the bedroom wall or wherever