How to Teach 7 X 8 = 56

So All Students Can Succeed

Victoria Leon

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Victoria-Leon-11/Products

vleon999@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2010 Victoria Leon

Permission to copy for classroom use only.
Hi,

I am glad you downloaded my free product, “How to Teach 7 X 8 = 56 So All Students Can Succeed.”
I always tell my students that I was horrible in math when I was in elementary school. In fact, I did
not learn my multiplication tables until I was in 8th grade. I hated 7 X 8 the most. However, once I
did learn those awful times tables, algebra got a lot easier in middle school.

I wish that someone had taught me this simple trick to learning 7 X 8 = 56 when I was younger and it
would have been my favorite times table fact to remember.

You will need to teach the concept of multiplication first. Your students must understand that
multiplication is just repeating the same number over and over for a particular number of times.
Hence, it is called the times tables. Once you add up the repeating numbers, you will get the answer
to your multiplication problem.

Only after your students understand the concept of what 7 X 8 means, then teach the trick...

TEACHER:! ! We have been learning the multiplication facts and I ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! have a quick and easy way for you to remember that ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! 7 X 8 = 56. Look at this card and say 5, 6, 7, 8 after ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! me...
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to each number as the teacher ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! says the numbers...The teacher points to the students...)

ALL STUDENTS:! 5, 6, 7, 8...

! ! ! ! (The teacher points to each number as all of the
! ! ! ! students say the numbers...)
TEACHER:! ! Thatʼs right...5, 6, 7, 8...
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to each number as the teacher
! ! ! ! says the numbers...The teacher points to the students...)

ALL STUDENTS:! 5, 6, 7, 8...

! ! ! ! (The teacher points to each number as all of the
! ! ! ! students say the numbers...)

TEACHER:! ! By the way, 7 X 8 = 56...

! ! ! ! (The teacher points to the blue 7 and 8 and shows
! ! ! ! how the arrow points to the red 56.)

TEACHER:! ! Who can explain the trick?

STUDENT 1:! ! You need to say 5, 6, 7, 8. Then you take the last
! ! ! ! two numbers 7 and 8 and multiply them together. The
! ! ! ! answer is 56 or the two red numbers in the front.

TEACHER:! ! That is absolutely correct. You have to say 5, 6, 7, 8 first.

! ! ! ! Then look at the blue 7 X 8 and it equals
! ! ! ! the red 56. Letʼs try it again. Say 5, 6, 7, 8...
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to the red and blue numbers as
! ! ! ! the teacher says the numbers...The teacher points to the
! ! ! ! students...)

ALL STUDENTS:! 5, 6, 7, 8...

! ! ! ! (The teacher points to the red and blue numbers
! ! ! ! as all of the students say the numbers.)
TEACHER:! ! 7 X 8 =....
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to the blue 7 X 8 and then sweeps
! ! ! ! his or her finger over the arrow to point to the 56...The
! ! ! ! teacher points to the students...)

ALL STUDENTS:! 56...

TEACHER:! ! By the way, now that we know that 7 X 8 = 56, what do you
! ! ! ! think 8 X 7 is?
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to 7 X 8 = 56 written in black.)!!

STUDENT 2:! ! 8 X 7 = 56...

TEACHER:! ! How did you know that 8 X 7 = 56?

STUDENT 2:! ! It is an example of the commutative property of

! ! ! ! multiplication or what we call “the multiplication flip trick.”
! ! ! ! Since 7 X 8 = 56, the flip side of that equation is 8 X 7
! ! ! ! and it must also equal 56.

! ! ! !
TEACHER:! ! You are right. 7 X 8 = 56. The multiplication
! ! ! ! flip trick or what is really called the commutative
! ! ! ! property of multiplication flips the numbers 7 X 8 and
! ! ! ! makes it 8 X 7. The answers to the two problems is the
! ! ! ! same number 56. So because you know that 7 X 8 = 56,
! ! ! ! the 8 X 7 equation must also equal 56. ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! (The teacher points to 7 X 8 and then twists the fingers
! ! ! ! around to point to 8 X 7. The teacher points to the
! ! ! ! 56 in one card and the 56 in the other card.)

*******************************************************************************************************************

I have provided you with the multiplication cards to go with the lesson.
You may want to print it on card stock and then laminate the cards.

For those of you who do not have access to a color printer,

I have also given you two more cards. I would color in the
5, 6, 7, 8 in black.

In the other card, I would color the 7 & 8 in blue

and the 56 in red.
I hope “How to Teach 7 X 8 = 56 So All Students Can Succeed” will be a useful tool for you to use in
your classroom each school year. If you have time, please rate this product so that other teachers
will know if it is worth downloading or not.

I can teach anyone math. The way I teach the math concepts are different from anything you have
seen in the typical math textbook. I intend to post future products describing the ways I teach
numeration, rounding, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and word problems on
Teachers Pay Teachers. I will give specific directions, similar to this product, on how to teach the
various concepts. If you would like to have Teachers Pay Teachers e-mail you when I have posted a
new product, go to my TpT profile page: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Victoria-Leon-11/
About-Me and click on the “Follow This Teacher/Author” icon.

You may also want to look at my products page: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Victoria-

Leon-11/Products to purchase these other products I have created...

• Test Prep Tournaments For Any Grade and Any Subject

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• Word Problem of the Day - 200 Letter & Legal Sized Charts
• Teaching Tips From an Award-Winning National Board Certified Teacher
• 40 Multiplication Bingo Cards, War, and Times Table Flashcards
• Addition Game - 6 Game Boards *** FREE ***
• Subtraction Game - 3 Game Boards
• Multiplication Game - 9 Game Boards

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail me at vleon999@yahoo.com.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! I hope you have a successful school year with your students,

! ! ! ! ! ! ! Vicky Leon
5678
56 = 7 X 8
7 X 8 = 56
8 X 7 = 56
5678
56 = 7 X 8