Multiplication fact fluency is a necessary skill for all learners as they move forward in exploring mathematics. As students move to more complex math problems, we want students to be able to focus on the skill at hand and not have to use up brain power thinking about a fact. For example, in 5th grade, when students are learning how to multiply and divide decimals, there is so much conceptual understanding being made. Having to think about a basic fact will slow students down and bog down their thinking.
Most would agree that knowing basic facts is an important skill but how do we get our students to achieve fluency? Below are some tips that I have found to be extremely useful.
Foundation Facts First
Foundation Facts are the building blocks of other math facts. For multiplication, the Foundation Facts are: 0, 1, 2, 5 and 10. All of the other facts can be derived from those foundation facts. It is important that students are completely automatic with these foundation facts before moving on to other facts. These facts are usually easy for students due to the property of 0 and 1 and skip counting that takes place in 2nd grade for 2, 5 and 10.
Strategies
Conceptual fluency refers to being able to solve math facts efficiently, flexibly and accurately. Rote memorization is not a flexible way of thinking and skip counting is not an efficient way of thinking. We must give our students more. If you teach students a strategy it gives them a flexible and efficient way to arrive at the correct answer. It also provides students with a practical way to understand the distributive property. The strategies I use for each fact are:
0- Zero Property– Any number times 0 is zero. 0 groups of 5 is 0. 5 groups of 0 is also 0.
1- Identity Property– Any number times 1 is itself. One group of 5 is 5. Five groups if 1 is also 5.
2- Double– To multiply a factor by 2, add it to itself. 5 x 2 is the same as 5 + 5
3- Double Plus 1– To multiply a factor by 3, multiply the factor by 2 and add a group.
4- Double and Double– To multiply a factor by 4, double the factor and then double that answer.
5- Skip Count by 5’s- To multiply a factor by 5, skip count by 5’s.
6- Multiply by 5 and add 1 group– To multiply a factor by 6, multiply the factor by 5 and add a group.
7- Multiply by 5 and Add 1 Double– To multiply a factor by 7, multiply the factor by 5 and add a double.
8- Double, Double, Double– To multiply a factor by 8, multiply the factor by 2, double the answer and then double that answer.
9- Multiply by 10 and subtract 1 group– To multiply a factor by 9, multiply the factor by 10 and subtract a group.
10- Move up a place value– To multiply a factor by 10, move the factor over a place value. For 5 x 10, move the 5 to the tens place which equals 50.
11- Multiply by 10 and Add 1 group– To multiply a factor by 11, multiply the factor by 10 and add a group.
12- Multiply by 10 and Add 1 Double– To multiply a factor by 12, multiply the factor by 10 and add a double.
Let students Work at their Own Pace
Concrete representations and visual models are essential for student understanding. Some students may need to use manipulatives and drawings longer than others in order to lock in their understanding. As students are able to apply the multiplication strategy efficiently, remove visual models and have students practice thinking about the strategy in their head. These flashcards are a great tool that has visual representation for every strategy. As a student becomes proficient using the visual model, you can turn over the card and have students practice the fact with no visual representation.
I hope you find these tips for fluency helpful! Happy teaching!
