How to Teach Multiplication Fact Fluency in 12 Weeks

Teaching multiplication facts, and having students actually commit them to memory is something that many teachers dread. It is so hard to get the support at home or motivate students at school to do it, and yet it is imperative that students build fact fluency for times tables. They need to know them with automaticity to make higher math easier. Times tables are often memorized in third grade, but are sometimes started in second or held off until fourth. 

There is a push lately to not have kids memorize the multiplicaiton facts at all, and that just seems like a huge mistake. I have taught for enough years to have seen first hand how much it slows students down in their math work when they do not have automatic recall on times tables. 

Some argue that students should not just memorize, but should understand the concept with lots of hands-on learning. I agree that building understanding is important, but that doesn't mean that you cannot do both, because it is a real handicap when 5th grade students, or even 4th graders do not know their facts. 

We all know how boring it can be to simply sit around doing flashcards and struggling to memorize a mountain of new information. So for many years, I have been on the quest for how to make this process easier, less painful, and even fun. I have done all sorts of things and tried all sorts of programs, and finally I have come up with my own flow that works for me and for my students. 

One of the amazing things that I use in my classroom is room transformations. I just love them and so do the kids. They pack a powerful punch to jumpstart learning or to wrap it up. Let me tell you about Spy Academy. 

Spy Academy opens up with a spy-themed glow day. From Hope King, I learned that if you hang white yarn here and there in your room from floor to ceiling, it looks like laser beams...perfect for a spy-themed day. I like to meet my students in the hallway at the door. Before they come in, I have them scan their finger on a free app that is like a finger-reading spy code. Then students get to come in the room. Of course it is dark, with glowing elements. I use spy hats that I purchased for a dollar each at Dollar Tree. They are perfect for placing the students in groups because the hats also come in different colors. 

During this room transformation, we do lots of multiplication games. Students who need it, are able to keep a multiplication chart near by. We love the game Multiplicaiton Slam. I look for games that are easy, quick, and fun. This one is all the above plus it is easy to prep. I like to put it on brightly colored paper that glows, but white also looks pretty cool under the black lights. I ususally have rotations of different games and activities including Jenga with task cards. I place a brightly colored sticker on each block and students have to move a block that matches the color of their task card. 

Another easy game is tic-tac-toe with glow sticks. You can just add some multiplication cards to give it a math twist. 

Something else that is both easy and fun during our Spy Academy is a fact sheet. What makes it extra fun is to give each student a neon colored highlighter to write with. Students love seeing the numbers glow on their page. 

After we enjoy our kick off of Spy Academy, I test my students to see where to place them in the Spy Academy Levels. Each student does fact investigations for each level until they cannot complete the one minute timing or they get an answer wrong. That is the level I will place them at to start with. The great thing is that this can be completely differentiated for each student. One student may just be starting out, and need to work on the 0's facts, while another may be ready for the 4's. 

Once I have done a placement test, I settle the class into a routine. We learn one level each week with a test on Friday.  If the student does not pass the test by Friday, they will not level up. They will spend more time practicing the same level. Every student has a fingerprint card (similar to when you get a background check). Every time a student goes on to the next level, he or she stamps a certian fingerprint on his/her card. Once the card is full, they are ready to graduate from Spy Academy and become a multiplication secret agent. I also keep a sheet for each student where I record the facts he/she has learned. I try to update them every Friday, but if for some reason I get behind, I just catch up as soon as possible. 

To test each student I have one or two ways that I can do it. First, I could give them the one minute fact investigation sheet. If they can write all the answers correctly in that time, I know they are fluent with that fact set. The other way I like to do it is to do an oral test with flash cards. They should look at the card and almost immediately say the answer. If they get an answer wrong or hesitate, I do not pass them to the next level. I want the students to know the answers with automaticity. It is so important as they move up in math. 

For each student that passes, I have trading cards that they can earn. They can easily be kept in a plastic sandwich bag, and students can continue to add the cards until they collect one for each set. Once a student has completed all the levels and has all the collector's cards, he/she will try to figure out the secret scrambled phrase. Each card has one letter in the phrase and must be laid out in the correct order. If a student cannot figure out the phrase, I will give them hints so they can be successful. 

Once every child has been placed in a level, we can build our daily routine that will help him/her be successful with learning their facts for that level. I try to engage the student in many different learning styles. They have parts to the training program that they will do each day. Some parts they will get to choose. 

We begin with a daily fast fact investigation. Students get one minute to complete a investigation of the fact level they are working on (0-12). If they complete the level, I will check the paper to make sure they did not skip any or get any incorrect answers. If they do not finish, I like to have them write the missed ones three times --- writing the problem then the answer, then the problem then the answer, three times. When I have them do this, they are saying each fact with the answer three times. They are seeing and writing it.They are engaging many different learning styles all at once and it helps them memorize the facts quicker than when I did not have them write the ones they missed. 

The next thing is to have students find a partner for a quick partner practice. With this, partners sit facing each other. One student has a set of facts (on a ring clip) without answers while the other has a set of facts with answers. The student without the answers will go first. The partner will flip a one minute sand timer over. The first student will read the problems and say the answers as fast as he or she can. If he/she finishes before the timer runs out, he/she will simply go back to the start of the card and read it again until the timer runs out. The other partner will be checking the answers on his/her card as their partner reads. If an incorrect answer is given, the parnter who is checking answers will say the problem with the correct answer. The partner who is practicing will repeat the problem with the correct answer three times before moving on. This is a great interpersonal learning tool as well as engaging auditory learning.

I think it is also important to have a whole class practice. Sometimes I simply hold up flashcards for the class to see and let them shout out the answers, other times I will play a quick and easy whole class game with them. Variety is key. 

The first game I like to play is called The Stand Up Game. Each student will stand by his or her desk and be ready to answer when I show him/her a flashcard. If he/she answers correctly, he/she will stay standing. If not, he/she will sit down and the next student will get a chance to try the same card. All students are expected to watch the cards as the other students play. The last student standing is the winner or whoever is still up when we run out of time. I just keep cycling through the fact cards that I have chosen for them to practice.  The other game we love to play is called Around the World. In this game, two players stand up. A flashcard is shown and the first player to say it aloud continues on, while the other player sits back down. The winning player will stand beside the next student who is closest to him/her and the play will repeat with a new card. Each round one player is out and sits down, while one continues on moving around the room. The winning player is the last player standing once all students have had a chance to answer one card. One last game I love to play is a Multiplication Relay Game. It is best played outdoors when we need a brain break or at the end of recess before we head back in. I divide the class into two teams. The teams line up on one side of the playing area. On the other side of the playing area, I set a stack of cards for each team. I stand in the middle between the students and the cards. The first player from each team runs down, picks up a card, runs to me, shows their card and says the answer. If the player gets the answer correct, he/she will give me their card and tag the next player in line who runs down for the next card. If a player gets the answer incorrect, he/she cannot try again until he/she takes the card and runs down to his/her team to get the correct answer and then he/she comes back to tell me. The first team to finish all their cards is the winner. 

Something else that I like to do for whole class practice is to stand at the door with a stack of flashcards when we are heading out of the classroom. Each student in line must answer a question correctly before he/she can go out of the class. If he/she does not answer correctly, he/she will go to the back of the line to try again. 

For individual practice I have lots of different types of Spy Academy practice cards I can use. The first is a Pat-Down Card. The student holds out the card, says whatever is in the first circle while they pat the shoulder on the opposite side of their body (the side that is holding the card) with their empty hand. They say the next circle while patting the inside of their elbow. They say they say the answer while patting their wrist. I have some cards with answers and some without. Students who are stuggling can use the cards with answers first and build up their skills. I love these cards beacuse they are kinesthetic. They get students moving. Students are also crossing the midline and engaging more of their brain. 

The next card students can use is a Secret Code Card. The best thing to do with this card is to use an invisible ink pen and write the answer at the top. Students can "press" the numbers and then shine a glow light at the top of the card to check their answer. I mean what kid does not like to use a glow light and invisible ink? It is super fun. 

I also have regular spy-themed flash cards that students can use in school or take home. Students will just focus on the cards for each level and add them to any old sets they have memorized previously. They can also use my skip counting files where they are focusing on just one set, but practicing in order so they are basically using skip counting or multiples. 

Once students go through all the levels, I have them do a mixed review. Students have a 5 mintue final fact investigation that includes all the facts, mixed up, from 0-12. Students may need to work on this for a while before they master them with automaticity. 

While they are doing review work, I like have other review activities that cover a variety of fact levels to help them practice. They enjoy using task cards or using the cards to play a game of scoot. I introduce problem solving with multiplication facts. 

Students can also use multiplicaiton coloring sheets to help keep themselves sharp. 

My class LOVES to play games, and so multiplication practice would not be complete without playing games. While we are working on Spy Academy, I love using a spy themed game. It is called Find Five. In the game, students are racing to be the first to cover five spaces on the board. It is perfect for partners or teams of students. 

Once students master all the multiplication facts, I love to make a big deal about it. It is a HUGE accomplishment for them. One great way to do this and tie into the theme is to host an Spy Academy graduation ceremony. Students will be awarded with a certificate stating that they are Multiplication Secret Agents and it would be great to find some little plastic police or detective badges to place on each agent's shirt. Finish it all off with a small treat. 

Teaching the multiplication facts can be fun! They can be exciting! Your students can learn them in a small amount of time. Figure out what works best for your class and get started. 

If you are interested in any of the resources mentioned or shown, click the pictures below.

Connecting Kids with Nature

More years ago than I want to admit, I graduated with a master's degree in outdoor education. I have always loved the great outdoors. I find it to be like a detox to my stress level. There's just something about hearing the rustling leaves, birds singing, and yes, even the crickets at dusk. In fact, studies show just how helpful spending time in nature can be. 

Spending time in nature is actually an antidote to stress. It is proven that nature can reduce stress and feelings of anger or anxiety. It can even lower your blood pressure and give you a dose of the feel good chemicals that bring about happiness.

Nature is great for me, but as a teacher, I also want that benefit for my studets. Some of the ways nature specifically benefits students is increased attention, self-regulation, fitness, calm, creativity, and even more. If we know that nature has this effect, how can we change things to get kids out there more often?

The average kid spends between 6-9 hours in front of a screen each day. Screen time has the opposite effect of nature. Kids are less focused, more impulsive, more likely to be overweight, and less creative. So if we know better, why is it that we do not do better? I think it really comes down to the fact that parents are busy, teachers are busy, and neither one has the time to figure out activities to connect the kids with nature. 

I'd like to share some simple activities that can be done at home or school that will help get kids out into the wild enjoying the great outdoors a little more.  

First, let's look at some books about nature. These books can be used with younger kids because they have beautiful illustrations, but I was really trying to focus on kids that were a bit older, like upper elementary. The thing I liked about these books, that made them a good fit to also use in upper elementary is that they have some more advanced vocabulary that you could introduce to the children. I put a picture and a brief description of each book down below. Good books can help build interest in a topic, in this case, nature, so they are very helpful in that way. After we check out a few books, we'll look at some activities that you can do as well.

This book features a 37 line poem that serves as a "nest" for 160 other poems found within the 37 lines. 

This book tells the true story of Margaret Lowman who, as a child, was obsessed with leaves. She turned her love of leaves into her career later in life when she became a female scientist exploring the very top of the rainforest.

This is the true story of an entomologist. Back when girls were not suppose to have any interest in bugs, Evelyn fell in love with them, eventually working with insects at the London Zoo.

 

Charles Henry Turner had an inquisitive mind. Even though he lived long ago during the time of ratial predjudice, he did not let that stop his love of learning. He went on to become the first black entomologist.

This book is beautifully illustrated and has just about everything you'd ever want to know about insects....and then some. There are other nature books in this series as well. 

Introducing kids to books about nature can increase their awarness and love for it. I love these books because a few of them focus on jobs that are quite unusual, but have something to do with nature. 

Now for the activities. There are lots of ways to make being in nature enjoyable. First, let's look at how to spice up an ordinary hike or walk. Lots of families take walks, and if we're honest, lots of kids complain that they have to go. So, why not add some activities along the way? One great way is to have the kids do a scavenger hunt. It keeps them engaged and helps them have a purpose during the walk. Another fun twist you could do would be to let them create their own scavenger hunt along the way and use it later or trade with another child. Try giving children a camera instead of a checklist for added excitement. Kids love to take pictures and document what they see. 

Another activity you can do is to have children collect little pieces of nature in a lunch bag. After the walk is over, have them lay the items out and take a picture of everything arranged on a large paper. Turn it into a seek and find game. Have them write a list of things to locate in their picture and share with a friend. 

How about going on a color walk. Kids could focus on colors while walking. Start by listing out all the colors they want to focus on. As they walk, have them write down anything they see in that color. You could even create color poems or similes afterwards.

Teach kids observation skills using the five senses. Have them look at an object in nature from different perspectives. Look up close, from far away, from the top, from the bottom, from the left, from the right. Draw the item from different vantage points. Have children collect different kids of leaves. Compare and contrast the different leaves. Categorize them. Identify them. Use them to create paint brushes or a crayon rubbing. 

Create a simple bird feeder with a pinecone, peanut butter, and bird seed. Observe the different birds that come by. Make a graph of the birds. Do sketches of the birds. 

Watch for and observe insects. Draw them in detail. 

Play in nature...build a simple fort. Climb a tree or walk on fallen logs. Create a scene from found nature items. Have someone guess what your scene is. It could be from a movie or Bible story, or a scene from a book you are reading....instead of writing about what you visualized, build it. 

There are really so many different ways to enjoy nature. Just get your kids out there. Find a way to connect them to nature. 

If you would like to check out some resources to help you explore nature with your child or class, click on any of the pictures below. 

This resource has 21 different easy to do activities for connecting with nature, including most of the ones mentioned above.

This journal has 10 different pages that can be copied to help students write about and draw observations from nature. It is a true nature journal.

5 Tips for Preparing your Classroom this Summer

I see you working...teachers are just like that. It is hard for us to take a break, even when we are on summer break. My best advice is to work if or when you feel like it. Don't feel any guilt if you never feel like working. That is perfectly OK too. In this post, I want to share a few things that I like to check off during the summer. Here are some things I want to get done before I report back on August first if I continue to feel up to it. 

1. Classroom Decor                                                                                              

The summer is the perfect time to think about and search for classroom decor ideas. I have not changed my decor theme in three years. Before that, I worked at a brand new school that did not want us to decorate, so it has been a while since I have thought about a theme and what I want to change versus what I want to keep for the upcoming year. I know I want to keep my quotes wall. I have been collecting artwork quotes that I love and turing them into an art display within my classroom. I feel that I can still incorporate that with any theme. The rest of my room has been a farmhouse style theme with shiplap and plant touches. I love it, it is calm and soothing. It has served me well and quite honestly, for the past three years, I have not really felt the energy or desire to to change that. I used to change my theme yearly, but something in me chaned the last three years with Covid. I think all of us teachers felt the extra stress of work and what we were going with and just keeping up with the required parts of teaching felt overwhelming without doing the extra work of creating a new classroom theme.

With that being said, I (think) I am moving up in grade levels next year, probably looping with my class. They will be older and I just want to give the room a different vibe and feel for the new year. This will be the 4th year I have had the oldest of my students. I started with them in third grade while teaching a 3/4 combo. The last two years I have done a 3-5 combo ( I work at a super small school that does multigrades). This year, I will most likely have 4-6 or 5-6. Still waiting for confirmation. 

So, with thoughts of new decor ideas swirling in my head, I wanted to create a wanderlust themed classroom with travel posters and a retro feel. I wanted to bring in nature still with plants, but I think that fits the 60's/70's vibe I am going for. Here's a sneak peek at what I am creating. Can't wait to get it finished and posted to TPT, hopefully this week. 

Currently I have 5 decor sets in my store, but I am hoping to create two new ones this month. One is All Who Wander, shown above and the other one is Junglow (Boho Jungle). Here is a peek at the other five decor sets I have created in the past. I enjoyed using my own creations in my classroom in the past. 

Llama Llama

Who could resist a cute little lama theme with accents of lime, bright pink, and navy blue? This was one of my favorite classroom decor sets EVER. I loved having this up in my classroom. You can check it out in my TPT store over here.

Since I loved the llama decor so much, I created a second llama set. This one is a boho llama one. You can see it here.

What boy does not love a superhero theme. Girls can get behind it too. It is fun, bright, and adds a pop of color to the classroom. I created a superhero theme with tones of reds, yellows, and blues. Here it is.

Another theme I love to bring into my classroom is nature. I have my master's degree in outdoor education and I have done the research on how nature affects learning and behavior. I wanted to bring a touch of the natural world into the classroom through my Into the Wild Decor set seen here.

The final set I created is Selfie Classroom Decor. It is all things camera and celebrates a good selfie with muted tones. Check it out over here.

2. Yearly Plans & Set Up

When doing yearly plans, I take the easy route. I look at my curriculum and divide it by 10. Then I plug in the topics and standards for each month. Since I teach more than one level, I try to also align different math standards that go along with each other. For instance while teaching times tables to the third grade, my fourth grade will work on multiplying with larger numbers like two digits on bottom and three digits on top, while my fifth graders will work with multiplying with decimals. That way everyone in class is working on at least similar skills if possible. It is not only good for reinforcement and enrichment, but it is good for planning special activities that can reach across grade levels. 

Along with my yearly plans, another good thing to take care of is a teacher communication binder. We all know how hard it can be to keep record of communication with parents. That's why getting it all organized and keeping it that way from the start can be so helpful. If you need help in that department, be sure to check out my teacher communication binders that come in three different themes: Fiesta, Over the Rainbow, and In the Trees. The binder content is the same, but with a different theme for each. These have everything I need to keep lines of communication open between myself and parents. They include an editable newsletter template, commuication record, postitive notes home with a record sheet to track who I have sent a note to, and some tags. The Fiesta set is comes in color as well as blackline, but due to the type of clipart, the other two sets are in color only. 

Fiesta

Over the Rainbow

In the Trees

3. First Week of School Plans

Once I have my first week of school plans down, all seems good with the world. This summer I am hoping to have those nailed down so I can transition easily into the school year without a lot of added stress. One of my go-to books to use is called The Six Weeks of School. 

This book lays out nearly perfect plans for returning to school while building community and setting up procedures and expectations. The thought is that if you take the time to build this mindset during the first weeks of school then you will have an easier year with less problems. It short, you will get much more done by laying the groundwork at the beginning. 

4. Hit the Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are perfect for searching for things to add to your classroom. I especially LOVE looking for books. Last summer I discovered that our town had a Goodwill Bookstore. It's pretty amazing, and it gets new books all the time. You can come out with a ton of books for between $1.99 and $2.99. Plus I believe they have a teacher discount that runs from June through July. Also the regular Goodwill Store is a great place to find old gently used board games that can be turned into learning games for the class. I definitely have scored many games there. Local thrift stores can also have some great stuff. I usually look for things in one of these categories: books, games, decor, and costumes for future lessons or transformations. It's cheap and easy.  

5. TPT Wishlist

No one knows exactly when, but Teachers Pay Teachers has a back-to-school sale at some point toward the end of summer. Because of that, I recommend that you begin to save things to your cart as you find them throughout the summer. If you can hold off on purchasing them, that is even better because around back-to-school time you will find them generally at 25% off the price. That is a good deal, especially if you, like me, are purchasing many items during the back-to-school season. You can really save yourself a bundle. And speaking of bundles, look for bundled deals. This is where TPT sellers group similar items together, usually at a discount. You can check to see if the product you are purchasing are part of a bundle or not by scrolling down on the listing to see if it says that the product is also a part of another product. If so, you can get a lot more at a saving. 

I know the last three years have been a killer for teachers. Covid teaching has left a lot of holes in education and vacancies in the classrooms. Teachers are overworked, underpaid, and often stressed out beyond belief. The teacher turnover rate is rising, so definitely do what makes sense for you and leave the rest behind. If that means sipping a cool soda on the beach with a great book in your hand and forgetting you're a teacher, then so be it. But then again, if you still have some energy left, maybe you'd like to try a few of these ideas for yourself.