“The traditional multiplication table can provide entry points into many viable studies using an initial situation known to every teacher and valuable for every student challenges and patterns for all tastes, interests and grades, to be tackled lightly or penetrated deeply connections to many curriculum topics traditionally considered isolated from each other” (page. Although the article is older now, his words of wisdom about the place of the multiplication table in learning multiples, I believe, is still relevant today: I was reading an article The Multiplication Table: To Be Memorized or Mastered? by John Trivett from 1980 as I prepared this blog.
Multiples are a starting place from which to jump forward into the wonderful world of mathematical thinking. The basics are important, but they are just that, basic. Our job as mathematics educators is to create thinkers, not calculators. Technological advances means that students need to be problem solvers, problem finders, and be flexible knowledge holders – not regurgitators of knowledge. This type of thinking does not come from rote learning multiples, it comes from understanding the concept of multiplication.Įducation has changed over the years, and teachers are great at innovating and adapting to meet the needs of both their students, and the world into which they will live. These are higher order thinking skills in relation to multiples – but this is what we are looking for when we think about being proficient in mathematics, or for students to be working mathematically. Or they might say, I could try 2 in each row, because 16 is an even number that can be counted by twos”. Students who understand multiples, should immediately be able to say “It can’t be 5 in each row, as 16 is not a multiple of 5″. A student with well-developed conceptual skills related to multiples would straight away rule out 5. I then ask, is there another way to put the tiles in equal rows? Many students start to guess, 1, 2, 3, 5, in each row? They try these ideas out as using trial and error with the tiles, some work and others do not. I have a number sense assessment that uses the number 16, and one of the questions relates to making an array with 16 tiles: How could I divide 16 tiles into equal rows? Most students make a four x four array first. If you want to generate bespoke PDF printable multiplication wheels, click here for our new for 2021 free Printable PDF Multiplication Wheel Worksheet Generator.Ĭlick here for our 2,5,10 times table division worksheets. Remember, it is very important to learn division times tables at the same time as multiplication times tables for better learning and understanding.This may seem obvious, but to young children it isn’t. Select the times tables to test (including division / inverse times tables), choose the number of questions, and press the button for a print ready high quality times table test. If you want to generate bespoke PDF printable times table tests automatically click here for our free Printable PDF Times Table Quiz Generator. Online Times Tables Trainer - perfect for kids to learn and practice their times tables independently and a detailed results record is generated to help them and parents and teachers see exactly how they are getting on. For drilling, click here to try our new free The key to success is regular drilling and worksheet testing to help identify which facts need extra practice. Printed 64 page Times Tables Practice Workbook.
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