If you're a third grade teacher you'd know that learning the multiplication facts is a massive part of the third grade math curriculum. But it's not the only part. And with only so many hours in the day to practice new math concepts, it makes sense for students to do some of that consolidation at home.
An important part of learning multiplication is learning the thinking strategies that will help find the answer to unknown facts. If a student doesn't know these, completing a page of facts at school or at home can become an ardous task. When math homework is hard, students stop being engaged, calculators come out and a page of facts is completed with little thought.
Or it's not completed at all.
Homework just becomes part of a stressful afternoon routine for both the child and parent.
The Importance of Multiplication Strategies
To become fact fluent in multiplication, students need to know thinking strategies. These strategies help them find the answer to unknown facts.
Research shows us that students who can apply the strategies are more successful in mastering their multiplication facts.
Sadly when a child doesn't know their facts they will label themselves as bad at math, regardless of how well they master other areas.
Knowing how to multiply one digit numbers is important to a child's concept of their math ability.
Multiplication Homework Games
To learn a strategy, students need to practice it.
To help your students, these homework games have been designed to remind them of the thinking strategies they need to know to make learning their multiplication facts easy.
Like my addition strategy homework games, the left-hand side of each multiplication game has a thinking strategy to prompt the child, as well as answers to each multiplication fact for that number fact.
Before the child starts the game, this side of the game is folded over. When the child lands on a multiplication fact they must write it down and answer it – perfect for accountability. You'll know they've done their homework because they will have written down twenty multiplication facts during the game. In fact, the game doesn't end until all twenty facts are recorded.
If kids don’t know the answer to the multiplication fact they can open up the flap. Once they quickly ‘sneak a peek’ and read the strategy or find the fact, they can record the answer.
Games make Learning Fun
My parents love mulitplication homework games because it gives them the math language that we use in class. It also provides them with the strategy needed to help their child work out the answer. My kids love them because it's a game.
You don't need to worry about sending home dice either, kids move according to a coin toss.
Don't think that they are just for homework, teachers have used them for their sub tubs, in math centers, and for early finishers too!
You can grab a pack from the link in the picture below.
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