Multiplication Strategies

Multiplying big numbers can be difficult! In third grade we focus on those factors that are easy to memorize. We work on our 0,1,2,5,10 and 11 factors first. They are quick and easy. We then skip count by and memorize our threes. We have been working very hard in multiplication centers like Multiplication Hopscotch, matching games, word problems, and manipulative work to master these threes and are now moving on to fours. Even though we are building up our multiplication facts from easy to hard, no matter what I do the students are still drawn to the challenge of the twelves! To help them be successful, the class discussed how twelve facts are really just made up of two fact families we've known since kindergarten- the twos and tens. If a student multiplies by two and ten, and then adds the products they will know the answer for their twelves. This picture shows three students putting that strategy to practice.