How I Get my Students to Master their Multiplication Facts

Every single teacher in the upper elementary classroom has a common struggle, and that is getting students to memorize their multiplication facts. We KNOW the difference it will make in the long term, but lets face it, it is laborious and in many cases BORING for your students. 

Memorizing multiplication facts does matter in the long run. I know that some people are on team "just build understanding" and don't worry about team "memorize your facts". But...I am here to tell you that if your students memorize their facts, it will be a game changer for them in not only multiplication but also division, fractions, decimals, algebra, and more throughout their schooling. 

Here's what I like to do that builds success in my classroom. 

Build Understanding of What Multiplication is

If you have third graders, but this could also apply to any grade level with weak multiplication skills, you should definitely build an understanding of what multiplication is and how it works. Some great ways to do this are by using the following strategies:

• Arrays
• Equal groups
• Repeated addition
• Skip counting
• Number lines

Teach Multiplication Fact Families in a Strategic Order

One way you can do this is to begin with the simpler facts first. This is a good way to order the facts as your students memorize them. 

• x0
• x1
• x2
• x10
• x5
• x11
• x9
• x4
• x3
• x6
• x8
• x7
• x12

Zeros are the easiest because anything times zero is zero. After that, 1's are next because whenever you multiply by one, the answer is always the other factor in your equation. Most students who are coming into third grade already have some knowledge of counting by 2's, 10's and 5's, so that makes these facts easier to target near the beginning of the order. Then I slowly build. Another thing to point out here is that when your students are learning their facts, another way you can do it is to introduce the fact with the factors in both orders. For instance, if a student is learning their 2's facts, they can learn that 2x3=6 and that 3x2=6. This is an example of the communitive property and can lesson the amount of facts they have to learn when they get to the higher numbers, because they will have already memorized several just by focusing on the communitive property as they go along. 

Practice for a Short Amount of Time Each Day 

Here's what this can look like. 

• 1 minute fact sheet timing (most of my students really love these, but for those who do not, that is OK, because this is just one part of how we practice.) 
• Partner practice (I have my students practice a facts list aloud with a partner. They say the facts and answers in order as many times as they can in one minute. The partner acts as a checker and stops and corrects them as they go along. Then they switch.)
• Multiplication Games (During small groups, my students practice multiplication games with a partner or in small groups. They can practice while focusing on just one set of multiplication facts or as they build their skills, I have games that have a mixed group of facts.) 

The key is to be consistent in your routine. A consistent time each day can build skills faster and help students retain them as well. Be sure to revisit previously learned sets. A good way to do this would be to keep fact cards for each set that has been memorized in a file box or baggie for each student. Every day they can go through those quickly in 2-5 minutes and with an answer on the back of each card, they can self-check.

Focus on the Hard Facts

Students often struggle most with these facts:

• x6
• x7
• x8

A great way to motivate them to memorize their 6s and 7s is to use the current 6-7 trend. There's just something about that that just gets kids excited. You could challenge students to memorize those two sets in just 6-7 days. Have a fun little party at the end for those who make it. Here are some easy (and cheap) 6-7 party ideas.

• Get giant 6 and 7 balloons. Have students take their picture with the 6 and 7 for the 6-7 multiplication hall of fame. Be sure to post their pictures and send one home. 
• Serve Sixlets as a snack
• Make trail mix from 7 items
• Drink 7UP

To make the 8s facts easier, you can build on the previous knowledge. If they know their 4s times tables, they can simply double those answers. For instance 4x4=16. 8X4 =16 doubled, which is 32. 

Celebrate Growth Instead of Perfection

• Personal best charts
• Class goals
• Sticker rewards
• Mystery prizes
• Fact master certificates

Celebrate improvement, not just speed. Some of my students really struggle with speed and can get discouraged. So don't forget those who are improving. Maybe last time they solved 25 facts in the minute timing and this time they solved 30...that is worth celebrating!

The Resource that Saves Me Time

A few years ago, I sat down and created a system for teaching my students that included lots of different ways for them to practice. I kept the learning styles in mind when creating this and focused in on different styles for the different activities. I also wanted it to be a fun theme that students could really get excited about. So, I created a resource that is a Multiplication Spy School Challenge. Students work to master their facts, set-by-set, with a fun set of spy activities, earning badges along the way to solve a mystery. At the end we have Spy School graduation with certificates for all the multiplication spies. It truly is a lot of fun and it saves time in planning out the activities or having to create them. If you want to save yourself the time and trouble, check out the resources by clicking on the links below. 

Multiplication Spy Academy Learning System - 

Comes with a free multiplication center game (Find Five)

I-Spy Multiplication Game

Engaging Math Block Ideas that Keep Students Excited About Learning

Last school year, I really focused on creating an engaging math block, one that would get my students excited about learning. Here's a look at what I am going to do again and what I am going to add next year for even more engagement.

Keep Engaging Students and Building Math Review Through Math Center Stations

I began with a set of centers in mind and started adding and creating things to make those centers a reality. I want to keep doing that. Last summer I worked on creating 5 themes for my math block and I kept running with that throughout the year. I created a few center game sets that would pair nicely with some of those themes. I want to finish off those math center games so that I have one for each theme. 

 Here's a look at the center games for my Multiplication Carnival/Circus theme.

Here's a look at one of the games for my Place Value Safari math centers theme.

Keep Engaging Students Through Math Escape Rooms

These were a hit with my class. I created 5 themed math escape rooms, one for place value, and the other four for the four basic math operations. My students kept asking for more. So, I am hoping to create even more to go with standards like area/perimeter, data, geometry, etc. These were perfect to do at the end of a unit as a review before the test. Students had built enough knowledge to be equipped to work through the challenges.

Here's a peek at a few of the activities in my Place Value Safari escape room.

These three different levels of activities are included in my Dive-iding Down Under themed escape room.

This space-themed addition escape room was a lot of fun, especially when students earned Star Bucks they could use at the Galactic Cafe'.

These were from my Fraction Math Mystery. 

Keep Engaging Students Through Fact Practice

I created a file for each multiplication fact. Inside the file are games and quizzes for students to practice the fact set they are currently learning. They could practice with a friend, or they could even do some of the games and activities independently. 

Multiplication Dots & Boxes game gets students focused on just one set of facts at a time. 

Multiplication Draw & Trace can be played with a partner, or with a one-minute timer alone.

Keep Engaging Students Through Project Based Learning in our Math Block

I purchased a PBL for math and it was highly engaging for many of my students. They wanted me to purchase additional ones, which sadly I did not do. However, I have visions of creating my own PBL units for math standards that will go directly with my math block themes. That way I can have a cohesive product line that I can use in my classroom that not only has escape rooms and math centers, but also has math PBLs as well. I hope I can get a couple of those done over the summer. 

If you are interested in spicing up your math block too, you can click the links below the pictures to be taken to those products. You could even check out my full store by clicking this link as well. 

Turn Test Prep into Fun: Easter Egg Hunt Math Review for Upper Elementary

With spring approaching, classrooms everywhere begin to buzz with excitement --the warmer weather, Easter celebrations, and of course...test prep season. But what if this time of year could be about more than just tired reviewing of standards? What if you could season it with fun? 

Easter Egg Hunt with a Twist

Turn your math review into an engaging egg hunt where your students:

• Solve math problems
• Move around the room
• Stay excited about learning

Imagine your students going on a classroom Easter egg hunt while reviewing their math skills. That's just what you CAN do with this fun and engaging activity. Students will solve math problems, hunt for eggs, and solve clues to reveal the answer to a riddle. 

The Power of Movement During Test Prep

We all know that students do not need another set of worksheets --they need more engagement!

Activities like an Easter egg hunt:

• Break up long review sessions
• Get students moving (and that in turn increases focus drastically)
• Encourage problem-solving in a fun way
• Make learning memorable

Instead of dreading review days, students will actually look forward to them. 

Skills You can Review During Easter Math Activities

An Easter math egg hunt is perfect for spiraling key skills in 3rd and 4th grades. You can cover skills like: 

• Addition and subtraction
• Multiplication facts
• Long division
• Equivalent Fractions

With students actively searching, solving, and checking their answers, they stay engaged longer --and retain more. 

Easy Prep, Big Impact

The best part? These types of activities are incredibly easy to implement. 

All you need to do is:

• Print the math recording sheet
• Cut out the eggs and hide them around your classroom
• Give students the math recording sheet
• Let the learning review (and of course the fun) begin

Within minutes, your classroom transforms into an interactive learning environment.

For Easy Differentiation

These work well for easy differentiation. Students can work on different skill sets within the same classroom because different egg designs can be used, or you can copy the eggs on different colored papers if you choose the blackline version. Then all you have to do is show students which egg design or color they are looking for around the room and they can ignore all the others. 

The Testing Season

Remember, your classroom doesn't have to feel stressful. 

By combining: 

• Engaging math review
• Movement-based activities
• Fun Easter egg hunts

You create a space where students feel both successful and appreciated. 

And that's worth celebrating!

Final Thoughts

This Easter season, try shifting from traditional review to something more meaningful. When students are engaged, moving, and reflecting, they don't just review math --they experience it. 

That's when the real classroom magic happens. 

Click on the photos below for each separate resource or check out the bundled product at the top to save even more!

 

Math Block Series: Math Review

One of my favorite ways to review, with my students, at the end of a math unit, is through the use of high engagement, hands on activities. I LOVE to use my math escape rooms. They are all themed and perfect to use with a classroom transformation, if that is the sort of thing you like doing in your classroom. But, even if it isn't, these escape rooms are still engaging without transforming your room. For the example I am going to show you, I used my Mission to Mars escape room, which was a review of addition skills. Each escape room themed activity comes with three levels of play that include third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade skills for easy differentiation. I kept the decorations very simple this time. I simply covered a table with a black tablecloth, added my packets and other supplies, laid out the drink ingredients (more on that in a bit), and added some star garland...super simple. The students were instantly asking questions as soon as they walked into the room...instant engagement. 

 

How to Prep the Review Game Materials

 I usually prep the packs for each team a few days ahead, or the day before. You just have to print everything for each challenge, cut and place in an envelope. I like to laminate all the puzzles so I can use them from year-to-year, so that is what I have been doing. This would be great to give to a parent who wants to be involved in the classroom, but really, the cutting itself did not take me too long. 

Take a Look at the Math Escape Challenges

When I introduce the escape to the students, I read off the introduction. It sets up the challenges and the goal for the challenge. I also tell them about what they earn at the end of each challenge. In this case, the addition escape room was a Mission to Mars theme. Students earned Star Bucks for each challenge they completed. After they completed each challenge, students were able to visit the Galactic Cafe' to make a special drink using their Star Bucks to pay for it. They were instantly hooked and worked so hard to figure out the secret codes for each challenge. The majority of my groups used about an hour of time, which was perfect for my math block. However, it could be split up where students do one or two challenges each day for a few days if you did not have that long. 

In the first challenge, students first rounded the numbers and solve the equations, matching puzzle pieces to the answers. Each puzzle piece had a letter on it and once the puzzle was complete, they asked for the decoder and were able to use it to find the secret code. This challenge generally takes the longest of any of them.

Challenge 2 includes a true/false worksheet for each student. Once students figure out which equations are true and which are false, they find the space ships that have the numbers matching the true equations. They put those space ships in numerical order and find their next code.  

For challenge three, students work to find the sums on each astronaut card. Once they figure out the sums, they will put those in order from least to greatest to reveal the next code phrase/word.

Challenge four has students engaging in a game of memory match. Once students match the equations to the sums, they will line up the number cards and place the matching card underneath, revealing their final code. 

This has honestly been such an engaging review activity for my students. 

Galactic Cafe'

For the Galactic Cafe' you need just a few items. There are labels to cover those items, to give everything a space theme. Here's a look at the final product. 

I have been hard at work creating a challenge for each math unit for my own classroom. I started with one for multiplication a couple of years ago, but this summer, I added the rest. I currently have: 

Place Value Safari

Mission to Mars Addition

Racing Subtraction

Circus Multiplicaiton

Dive-iding Down Under (Ocean themed dividing)

Get the entire bundle for a steal at just $29 dollars. You will save more than $8 by purchasing the challenges all together. Check those out by clicking the link here to add to your cart, or click the picture below. 

Using Math Mysteries in the Classroom

Have you ever wanted to sprinkle more magic and fun into your math block? Have you ever thought, "I wish I could easily gamify my math class?" Have you ever wondered how you could get your students engaged during math time? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, then stay tuned, because I want to introduce you to one way that I am making this a reality in my classroom and how it could work for you too. 

Figure out Which Math Concepts your Students Struggle with Most

What would you say are some of the hardest math concepts that your students learn? I currently teach math for grades 3-5 and some of the hardest are these:

In third grade: rounding and fractions

In fourth grade: long division and fractions

in 5th grade: decimals and fractions

Turn Difficult Math Concepts into Engaging Activities

Once you have identified some concepts that trip your students up and are difficult for them to learn, you have some targeted standards to create engaging activities around. If you have been teaching for longer than a year or two, I am sure you could already identify these difficult concepts. They usually are the same from year-to-year.

Now you need to look at the standards and skills the students cover under these concepts. You want to use as many of these as you can in planning your engaging activities. Usually I like to find about four main concepts that I can use for each activity. I like to do it this way because I love using the engaging activities at the end of a unit, as not only a review, but also as something for students to look forward to. They are more willing to put in the hard work and learn what they need to if they know they will be able to apply their skills in a fun and engaging way at the end of the unit. Of course, it is also possible to sprinkle some fun in throughout the unit, but for now, I want to focus on the culminating activity. 

Examples of Concepts to Include in a Math Activity

For these examples, I am going to use the concepts from our fraction units. 

In third grade, I chose these skills:

• Equal or Unequal
• Unit Fractions
• Fraction Models
• Fraction Lines

In fourth grade, these are the skills I chose: 

• Comparing Fractions
• Finding Equivalent Fractions with Dividing
• Equivalent Fraction Models
• Finding Equivalent Fractions with Multiplying

In fifth grade, I zeroed in on these skills:

• Simplest Form
• Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators
• Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
• Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers with and without regrouping 

Choose a Theme for your Math Activity

Keep in mind that you are doing this for the students. Think about what they would enjoy or what would benefit them. Sure, you can bring your passions to the table. That is one way to connect what you love to their curriculum. I have done this many times, but don't forget to consider their hobbies, passions and interests as well. 

Some examples of passions of some of my students past and present are: 

• Space
• Soccer
• Football
• Sharks
• Superheroes
• Video Games
• Certain Movies
• Certain Games
• Certain Books

Choose your Math Activity Type

When gamifying your classroom consider some of the following ideas:

• Escape Rooms
• Break Outs
• Mystery Activities
• Interactive Centers
• Games (Board or Card)

Putting my Math Activity Together

For this activity, I knew I wanted to try a mystery theme. I also knew that I wanted to do something with superheroes. I had names like "The Fractionator" Swirling around in my head. Superhero fraction names were coming at me left and right. So that's what I decided to go with. I also have a little boy in my third grade class who is absolutely in love with superheroes. That was an added bonus.

Once I had my ideas, I had to come up with a premise for my activity. Since superheroes save cities, I decided to twist this around and make all of the superheroes undercover bad guys and only one was a good guy. The trick was for each student to figure out which one was the good superhero and they had to find out quickly because time was running out to save the the city. 

With a set up like that, students were engaged immediately and ready to help save the city by solving math mystery puzzles using their newly acquired math skills.  

Math Content Activities

Students engaged in four different challenges to reveal a mystery clue. Each clue told them one of the superheroes that was an imposter. Their job was to solve each clue and reveal the real superhero, saving the city from certain disaster! As students completed a challenge, I checked their secret code and if they were right, they received the next challenge to solve. 

When all four challenges were solved, students earned a prize. More about that later. 

Setting the Stage to Engage

One thing I love doing is transforming my classroom and this was an easy one. I did not spend a ton of money to do this. I was able to print out a banner that said "Mathopolis" which was our fictional city that was under attack. I purchased a banner from Amazon to hang on my board. I covered a few boxes with colored bulletin board paper and added some squares to make them look like windows on buildings. I used the boxes to create a skyline for the city of Mathopolis. These were free to make using things we already had at the school. I had some masks that I had purchased a couple of years ago that I placed on balloons. I taped one to each desk to look like a colorful superhero. I attached a paper cape to the back of each balloon. Each desk had another mask that each student could use to get into character during our math activity. We had superhero music playing in the background. When students completed that challenge and solved the mystery, they received a Tootsie Roll Pop that had been turned into a simple superhero with colorful paper. 

That's it. That was the whole set up. You could do it all, or part of it, or not use any props at all, keeping it very basic. Here are some affiliate links to things I used in this transformation. I love finding pieces that I can reuse from year to year or use form other transformations as well. You can click the pictures to be taken to my Amazon storefront.

The masks I purchased are no longer available, but these are similar to mine.