Reply to My DC can't learn her multiplication tables, should I just give up?

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Reply to "My DC can't learn her multiplication tables, should I just give up?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You can try just showing her how multiplication works by adding. 2x2= 4, there are two 2s, would be 2+2. 2x3 = 6, there are three 2s, would be 2+2+2 and so on. At least if she has a grasp on addition she can figure multiplication out slowly. Eventually she will memorize it and if she forgets, she can take the ones she does memorize and add to it. Say she knows 2x2 is 4 but forgets 2x3 is 6 she will know that it's just one more 2 from what she's got memorized. Or if it's 2x4 then it's two more 2s if you get what I'm saying. I think kids get a better grasp at things if they understand why it happens rather than simply memorizing it because it gives them a chance to figure it out. Once she has it down then start using flash cards. Confidence is key.

To this day I find myself doing it occasionally. Say I'm calculating 12x13 in my head. I have memorized numbers squared up to 12 so I know 12x12 is 144 and I'll just add another 12 to get 156. Even though it might be faster to just multiply it, I sometimes feel more confident doing it that way. Sounds silly but just weird methods to do the same thing.

Good luck! [/quote]

I have been pleased that they actually teach things this way now in school, which they didn't when I was a kid. Actually makes me glad for the new Common Core standards, which include this understanding. Even though my kid can't memorize his math facts, he knows how to do the math. He knows what 6x7 MEANS. And in the end, that is a much more useful thing than just having the facts. Ideally one would have them both...but we don't get everything![/quote]

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