WAYS TO PRACTICE MULTIPLICATION FACTS AT HOME

Where to Start
Start by teaching the zeros and ones facts. These facts are easy to learn because they
follow specific rules.
Anything multiplied by zero equals zero (8 X 0 = 0)
Anything multiplied by one equals itself (8 X 1 = 8)
Demonstrate how the twos facts are just the numbers added together
(8 X 2 = 8 + 8)
Show how to solve five facts by counting by fives
(5 X 3 = 5 + 10 + 15)
Show how to use the multiplication facts they know to find the facts they don't know
(If they know 5 X 3 = 15, solve 5 X 4 by adding 5 + 15)
Then move to each of the fact families: 3's, 4,s, 6's,7's, 8's and 9's, 11's and 12's.
Remind that all multiplication facts can be done backwards
(8 X 2 = 2 X 8)
DO NOT move to a different fact family without first mastering the previous one.
Flashcards
Create your own. Students write the multiplication question on the front of the card and
the answer in number and picture format on the back. Example, students write 4x7= (front
of card) and write 28 and 4 sets of 7 on the back of the card. The picture representation
allows the student to understand how 28 becomes the answer. Multiplication is simply
repeated addition.
The dollar store almost always has multiplication flashcards.
For Active Kids
Have your child bounce a basketball or catch a ball as he or she says the multiples of
different numbers. For example, he can practice the multiples of 9 for each bounce 9, 18,
27, 36. Then he can say them backward: 81, 72, 63, 54. Research shows that kinesthetic
movement helps the brain learn facts.
Games
This game is played with two people. They put both hands behind their backs and on their
count, shoot out a number. Each player multiplies his or her number times the other
players number, and keep score.
Multiplication War: Deal a deck of cards between two people. Each person flips the top
card of his/her deck onto the table at the same time. The first person to call out the
product of the two numbers on the cards gets to keep the cards. (Ace=1, Jack=11,
Queen=12, King=0)

 Roll the Dice: This game can be played with one person or two. Roll two dice. Multiply the
two numbers showing face up. Write the digits 7-12 on squares of masking tape and stick
to the dice to practice your 7-12 facts.
Some great websites that will help you practice those facts:
www.funbrain.com
www.aplusmath.com
www.mathcat.com
www.coolmath.com
www.multiplication.com
www.mathsisfun.com