Many children have difficulty learning the multiplication table. As a parent, you certainly feel you have to help, because memorizing basic multiplication will help them while studying in high school, university, and beyond. You'll need time, strategy and patience to help your child learn and enjoy these multiplication lessons.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Teaching How
Step 1. Create a study schedule
Sit with your child at the study table when you and your child are ready to learn the multiplication table. You don't have to spend all day, just take 30 minutes to teach your child to learn without distractions.
You need energy and enthusiasm when you start teaching your child. Turn off your phone and TV, prepare a snack, and start teaching your child
Step 2. Teach the basics of multiplication first
When teaching, you should explain some facts about multiplication before starting to discuss the multiplication table. Remember, your child is not calculating the multiplication table, but memorizing it. However, they also need to know the basic concepts of multiplication.
- If your child isn't familiar with multiplication, try explaining it in addition, for example 4x3 is 4+4+4.
- Ask your child to bring their math book and all their study resources. That way you know what they have learned in school and how they are taught there.
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Prepare a number graph that shows the numbers 0 through 100. This graph will tell you the answer to a multiplication by connecting the rows and columns. In addition, finding the numbers on this graph is much easier.
If you're using a number line, you may have to try harder. You can ask your child to circle the number that is the answer to a multiplication with a pencil. He can also write the multiplication next to the number, and vary the color of the circle according to the multiplication (eg red for product 4)
Step 3. Explain how the commutative property will make things easier
Show your child that many of the answers from multiplication are repeated. So, they actually only need to learn half of the multiplication table. 3x7 is the same as 7x3.
Do it slowly. Once your child has mastered multiplication from zero to three, move on to multiplication four to seven, then eight to 10. If you want, try also learning multiplication 11 and 12. Some teachers may include more difficult questions as a bonus or measure the child's ability
Step 4. Explain the special patterns in each multiplication
Your child doesn't have to blindly memorize all the multiplications. Some multiplications have special characteristics that they can easily remember. Here are some existing patterns:
- All 10 multiplications end in zero.
- All fives end in five or zero, and are always equal to half the product of 10 (10x5=50, meaning 5x5=25, or half of 50).
- The product of zero is always zero.
Step 5. Explain the quick way
Mathematics has many quick ways. Teach your kids these quick ways to wow them and remember them easily.
- For nines, place your hands on the table with your fingers spread apart. For 9x1, close your left little finger, and your hand will reveal the number nine. For 9x2, reopen your little finger and close your left ring finger. Your hand will show the numbers one and eight, which when put together means 18. And so on until 9x10.
- If your child is good at doubling numbers, then he or she will be able to do fours with ease. Just multiply the number twice, say 6x4, multiply six which means 12, and multiply it once more, and you get 24.
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For multiplication of 11, simply write the number twice, for example 3x11=33, 4x11=44, and so on.
For a product of 11 that is multiplied by a number greater than nine, take the multiplier, add up the numbers, and insert them in the middle. For example at 11x17, take the number 17, add up 1+7 which means 8, then enter in the middle, which means 187
Method 2 of 4: Memorizing the Answers
Step 1. Short exercise
Once your child is quite familiar with the multiplication table, give them practice anytime and anywhere, such as at breakfast, waiting for commercials while watching TV, before going to bed, and so on. As time goes on, increase your speed and number of questions.
At first, start in order. But over time try asking randomly. Your child will slow down a bit in answering, but will soon get used to it
Step 2. Make learning fun
Create a game or contest or any fun activity that helps your child learn while playing.
- For example, prepare playing cards, random, then ask your child to draw two cards, then ask him to say the product of the two numbers listed on the card.
- Say a number, say 30. Does he know what multiplication makes the number 30?
- Say a number, then say “multiply [number]” and ask him to continue with the multiplication. For example, if you say the number 30, then say "multiply six", then he must continue from 36 onwards.
- Playing bingo, but the table is filled with multiplied numbers, and you call the multiplication, not the result. That way, he had to memorize multiplication before he could find and cross out the numbers in his city.
Method 3 of 4: Giving Gifts
Step 1. Using gifts
You don't have to use money or materials to give gifts. A snack or something else they enjoy can also be a good option.
Save a sizable reward for the test results later. If he can get good marks on the test, it means he has managed to study well
Step 2. Praise your child
Don't forget to pause and play or joke between study sessions. If you are with the progress of learning, your child will also get good and successful results. Show and tell the progress he is making so that he is proud and happy.
If he has a little difficulty in studying, calm down. Negative thinking and acting will worsen his progress, because a bad mood prevents the child from learning. Encourage your child to keep trying
Step 3. Take a break
Young children can't study too long. When you feel that he is tired, take a break. You may also need to rest yourself.
When starting over, do a quick review before continuing with the lesson
Method 4 of 4: Monitoring His Progress
Step 1. Take advantage of online materials
After you finish teaching what is in the book, try going to the internet and looking for interesting and fun practice questions.
Of course, you can create your own exercises, although on a computer your child may not feel as though the practice is a test
Step 2. Ask for the test scores
You've taught your child as much as you can, and you'll want to know if he understands and is successfully applying what he's learned at school. If he doesn't usually tell you his test scores, ask. He should be proud if he gets good grades. If the score is not so good, you can review the results together so that later you get a better score.
It's also a good idea to find out or ask the teacher how to teach and the curriculum applied in school, so that you know clearly what your child is lacking
Tips
- Try to teach the method he got at school. If you have a different way of teaching, use the one at school first. If it doesn't work, just use your method.
- For advanced lessons: the square of a multiple of 10 is very similar to the square of 1 to 9. If 1 squared is 1, then 10 squared is 10, 20 squared is 400, and so on.
- Be kind and patient. If necessary, do so very slowly (one line many times per day) until your child really understands.
- Like multiplication, addition also has a commutative property. This means that the result of 2+1 is the same as the result of 1+2.
- Forcing your child to quickly memorize multiplication with large numbers can be confusing and frustrating. Do it slowly, teach until he understands before moving on to something else.
Warning
- Never insult your child, or use words like stupid, lousy, etc. to your child, the subject matter, or yourself when studying together.
- Don't tire your child too much from studying or doing too many questions at one time. Remember, take a break and play if you need to.
- Understand that children are not supposed to actually do the math. Quick answers can only be formed by memorization. Counting will make the knowledge embedded at first, but this step will not be necessary once your child is able to memorize it.
