How To Teach P1 Multiplication

[buds]

[Editor's note: Topic selected & edited for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/ideas-teaching-multiplications.]


Maths is a very structured subject and also can be very abstract,
difficult to relate to in real life. The structure in Maths is useful in
that it is possible to spot patterns in the numbers and also to
sequence the learning that is to build step-wise through related
areas.

For example, counting is the foundation of number work and it is
impossible to move on to addition and subtraction before counting
and the knowledge of numbers are clear in a child's mind.

The advantage of Maths is that step-wise building can make learning
easy. The disadvantage is that the processes in Maths like multiplication,
do not readily translate into what happens in real life. For the
understanding of what a bus is in real life, an image of a bus comes
into the mind when the word is said. For many young children, the
image of 3X2 may not be as clear as to when it is presented like this.

http://www.postimage.org/

Moving from concrete to abstract
This means from learning using real-life objects and progressing on to
using number symbols. To cement the meanings of symbols, the real-
life representations can be left attached to numbers for a time, as sums
are completed or counting aids used like the number line.

http://www.postimage.org/

Isolating concepts
This refers to helping a child to understand better by making the idea
clear in the child's mind. This means that though interest in the subject
is of huge importance for motivation and concentration, interest material
should not be allowed to confuse a learner. For example, some books for
early learners fail because they allow supposed interest material to clutter
a page and obscure the principle that needs to be taught.

http://www.postimage.org/

Using a toy grasshopper or kangaroo, one can use it to hop along the
pebble-numbered line to make it more interesting. You may ask, \"How
many hops to get to 8?\" If you have the 100-square board/template, you
may ask the child to colour the numbers the grasshopper or kangaroo has
landed on...

http://www.postimage.org/

For readings and tips on more multiplication ideas, the neighbourhood
library would have this book entitled :- Help Your Child Learn the Times
Table For Your 5-7 Year Old Child (Parents' essentials) by Ken Adams.

http://www.postimage.org/

[buds]

Tables Songs Playtime


http://www.postimage.org/

Received some queries on the above.
I chanced upon it at Popular, came in
a plastic transparent box. Less than
$20 thereabouts... after discount.

[buds]

The Montessori Method has specific materials

to teach specific topics in Mathematics. Below
is the Multiplication Board used in Montessori
Mathematics.

Wooden boards that comes with 9 wooden
skittles, a set of number cards 1-10, 2 sets
of beads. Provides concrete experience of
Multiplication tables and division. \t

http://www.postimage.org/

[Mama Leong]

Mayb u can try this method. If learning 2 time table, u write the number 1 to 20. Then highlight 2, 4, 6, 8 etc while teaching him to memorise. Visual + audio can help them to retain better.

[cnimed]

Wow, I’m boggled by the amount of resources out there. For us, it was a natural transition from addition. My kid started with skip-counting on his own for fun. He started with the easiest - 10, then skip-counting by 2 (ie. 2,4, 6, 8 etc). I left him to his own exploration and he went on to other numbers, but usually only up to 5 sets or so.


After a few months of this, I began to challenge him to move up to 10 sets, and to ask him - how many sets of 2/3/4/5 are there in xyz ? After that, I showed him how he could keep track of the sets with his fingers as he skip-count, and (very impt for my little fella) how this can be applied in everyday life.

Throughout this I didn’t use the term "multiply" and I didn’t introduce him to the symbol. They were simply games in the shower stall or in the car. When I finally showed him the symbol recently, I think it took a bit of mental adjustment and getting used to.

[buds]

Oh... but there's more, deminc.


DD1 is really just an average girl who
is the kind who can't get it with only 1
go... much to my exasperation at times,
so it just means i hafta to inspire her in
other ways i can.

[metz]

Hi Buds,


I really like your huge array of learning resources. Have you ever considered lending your used resources for a fee? If you do, let me know. I'll be your first customer.

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

buds is a real pro when it comes to teaching. She's arm with loads of materials. How do you manage to come up with such amazing stuffs?


The way I teach is similar to lambchop1976.

Before I teach my kids multiplication, I first start with simple addition first. Once, my children master addition, I then proceed to explain what multiplication and division are. I taught multiplication and division at the same time. My goal at that time was not to get them to memorize the multiplication tables but more of understanding the concept, the relationship between addition, multiplication and division.
As per the picture below, I bought packets of of M& M chocolate. I prepared bowls for my child to visualize and act out what does it mean when I said/wrote down 2 chocolates to be given to each of our family members. 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12. Which is also the same as 2 X 6 = 12 or I have 12 chocolates and we need to give each of our family member equally.
Once he understands the concept and knows how to write out the equation, the skipping of numbers comes easily. He knows he needs to count mentally when multiplying. I start with the easiest one first, which is 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 & 10.

I taught my kids multiplication when they were in K2, 6 more months before they embark into the primary school journey.



http://www.postimage.org/

[buds]

chamonix:

Hi Buds,


I really like your huge array of learning resources.

Yeah?

I really like them too! :lol:

Though i coach my own girls with stuff,
i plan to go back to teach or mebbe run
my own private lessons. So i must keep
up with what's current and i definitely MUST
continue to grow my resources to make my
lessons more interesting. The more materials
i have, the more my students will enjoy their
lessons.

Though worksheets are needed for the physical
evidence of stuff learnt, the process need not be
all so worksheet-y or paper based. My lessons are
meant to enrich.... hopefully not to bore or worse still
not to add more paper work than the children already
have so much from school.

chamonix:

Have you ever considered lending your used resources for a fee? If you do, let me know. I'll be your first customer.

If you've seen from any of my ads up on Trading Posts, i keep
my materials in good shape and have them sold off once i get
my hands on new and more interesting ones. :evil:

The fantastic ones which are rare and hard to get... those are
the ones i put under lock and key. Cannot even post up here
in case i might get robbed. Wuahahahhahaaa! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks for your appreciation to my array of resources.
That's why i share the good stuff here in KiasuParents
so other parents who are looking into coaching their
own children can have an idea of how to find value
for money teaching aids to inspire their children to
learn. Best still, some ideas to DIY. No $$$ required.
As SAHM myself, i learn not to rely on things that need
a lot of money.

[metz]

buds:

Though worksheets are needed for the physical
evidence of stuff learnt, the process need not be
all so worksheet-y or paper based. My lessons are
meant to enrich....

I'm sure in time to come, more parents will appreciate such lessons.
Tell you a secret, I have just enrolled my kids for a Math program and indicated a strong preference for the teacher to just teach my kids mess around with some blocks. And yes, no worksheets or any written evidence on math required.

buds:

The fantastic ones which are rare and hard to get... those are
the ones i put under lock and key. Cannot even post up here
in case i might get robbed. Wuahahahhahaaa! :lol: :lol: :lol:

No need to post. Just one question - where do you stay? :evil:


Your sharing has definitely open up more avenues for parents to learn and teach their children. Those learning resources you recommended/selling, they are more like games to the kids. I can imagine my kids having tons of fun playing them while practising their math skills. That is killing two birds with one stone. I still have the microphone you recommended at the back of my mind. It will make perfect Christmas presents for both my kids.

Thanks for the sharing and keep it coming. :celebrate: