Five Engaging Ways to Practice Multiplication Math Facts

Do you ever imagine how life would be different if students actually WANTED to practice their math skills? What would motivate a student to learn their times tables? Mastering multiplication facts does not have to be a chore. It does not have to be boring! I am about to show you my favorite tips for getting those math facts stuck in your students' heads without coercion, threats, or begging. 

Gamify your Multiplication Facts

Nothing gets students more excited in class than actually getting to play. Sometimes students don't even realize they are learning or practicing when they are having fun doing it. Bring in the games. Let your students play with numbers. Play takes the heat off of them. It allows students to explore numbers in an engaging way. Games bring in competition and motivate students to get better so they can do better in whatever game they are playing. Playing multiplication games, or any academic game, allows students to build relationships with other students in the classroom as well. It's like the old adage, the family that plays together, stays together. Well, the same can be true for the classroom. Students will look forward to spending that time together, even if they are learning. They are interacting and having a great time learning all their facts. 

I always get a chuckle out of my students when I hear them say, today was so fun, all we did was play. Well, it may have felt like all they did was play, but it was very real and important work. Play, after all, is the work of childhood. 

Practice your Multiplication Facts

There's no getting away from it, a student who wants to learn his or her multiplication tables needs to put in the practice. Practice can look different, but students will need consistent practice.  Practice can take many forms, even as mentioned above, in the form of games. Here are some ways I love to have my students practice.

• Multiplication Games: This has already been stated, but it is worth saying again...students love games. If a child can practice in an engaging and fun way, DO IT! I have made tons of games over the year from War to Connect 4, from different themed games for every month, to my Spy Academy Games...I can easily keep my students engaged and set up with games. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Times Tables Partner Fluency Practice: Practicing with a partner always makes it more fun. In this practice, I like to allow one student to be the teacher, and the other becomes the student. Everyone likes to play the role of teacher and this activity capitalizes on that! I give the "student" a list of facts, without the answers, to a certain set. The "teacher" has the same list, except it has answers also listed. The student begins with a one minute timer, reading off his/her facts, one at a time and telling the answer. The teacher watches the answer key. If the student gets an answer wrong or doesn't know it, the teacher will tell them the whole fact, including the answer. The student must then stop, read the fact and answer three times, and then continue on through the list. The student will continue reading and rereading the list as many times as possible before they run out of time on the one-minute timer. 
  
  
  
• Kinesthetic Fact Practice: Kids were not made to sit still, and fact practice does not have to be another seat-bound time of the day. Using simple decks of multiplication facts, here are a couple of suggestions to bring the movement into your math class. First, try the game around the world. All students stand. Two students stand side-by-side. One fact is read by the teacher. The first two student try be the fist to answer the question. The first to answer, moves on to stand by the next student. The other student is out and must sit back down.  Play continues until one player, the winner, is left. Second, try this fun game. Students are divided into two groups. Have both groups line up on one side of a play area or gym. The other side of the play area or gym has math fact cards. The teacher will stand in the middle. On "Go!" one student from each team will race to the other side of the play area, grab a fact card and go to the middle to read and answer it. If he/she gets it correct, he/she keeps the card and tags the next person in line, who runs after a fact card. If the student answers incorrectly or doesn't know the answer, he/she goes back to his/her team and consults with them. Once he/she has the answer, he/she will go back to the teacher to share the correct answer before tagging the next player on the team. The team who answers all their cards first wins. 
  
  
  
• Speed Drills for Math Facts: I know what you are thinking....not every kid likes speed drills. You would be 100% correct in saying that, but as a teacher, I want to bring a variety of methods for practicing math facts, and speed drills can pack a powerful punch. I do not leave them out. Many students do love the thrill of trying to beat that one minute timer. They like tracking their progress from day to day. They like completing different levels. It feels like a game to many students. This is a powerful way to help students learn automaticity, which they will need to have when moving into higher math levels. Don't skip these. They still have value. 
  
  
  
• Fact Card Practice for Multiplication: Admittedly, I do not use these as frequently as some of the other options, but I do love fact cards for sending home. Many times, parents do not have the training to come up with fun games and activities, yet they need a way to practice with their children. Fact cards are an easy answer to what you can send home for student practice. Fact cards can be basic, like a flash card that you simply drill someone with. Fact cards can be more fun like when using the kinesthetic pat-down cards. These cards have students tapping and crossing the midline. The movement helps to stimulate another area in the brain for higher engagement and retention of facts. There is definitely a place for fact cards in your plans for memorizing the times tables.
  
  
  

Make Time for Committing your Multiplication Facts to Memory

It will take some time and effort, but students do have the ability to master their facts. It will take a bit of time. I usually allow a few minutes (maybe 5) at the start of class to practice the facts in some way. I always do a speed drill, but if time allows, another quick activity is nice to use as well. While I am working in small groups, I also like to use my math centers to rotate students through games and other activities that will force them to practice their times tables. I do 3 rotations for math, when I am meeting with another group, students have certain things they are required to do. Practicing math facts for multiplication is one of them.   I have many different games for students to choose from. Students can also work on other activities as well. Some days I may assign a certain activity. Other days  I let students have complete autonomy. 

In conclusion:

Students need practice to learn their times tables, and lots of it. Make it enjoyable whenever possible. Allow students to work with friends. Set up game choices. Make it a team effort between school and home. Give students options so they feel that they have some say over their learning. Stick with it, your students will learn their facts if you are consistent and allow them the time they need to practice.

 

I have spent many years creating all sorts of math games specifically for multiplication. I even created a Spy Academy Multiplication themed bundle that has everything you need to help your students practice. 

There are lots of ideas you can use up above, but if you need help with games or activities, I can help you out with that. These games and bundles can save you a lot of time. They are pre-done for you. It makes it so easy to get set up and started. Check out some of these links below to  purchase.