Does anyone have any ideas on how to help 8th graders learn their multiplication tables?
Ric
Concepts
I’ve got some online practice broken down into easier chunks on my site (www.resourceroom.net - click on “math”)
a book resource that focuses on concept building and number sense: _Tools for the Times Tables_.http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp
(But Mary doesn’t gain from her plug for Times Tables the FUn Way, which I also like — I wrote the workbook and did the Americanization of the _Tools_ book so I’ve got a vested interest in it ;))
Re: word of caution
This seems very similar to a Dr. memory (www.drmemory.com) program I bought for my son who claims the same thing; even those who could not learn any other way … But you really need to be a visual thinker. My son has visual-spatial and memory deficits amongst his reading and written expression disabilities as well. This method made him completely frustrated. So I would caution anyone who does not have the spatial skills, making visual cues for memorization will not work.
Math Facts the Fun Way almost always works, even with children who have been unable to learn the facts any other way. Website is http://www.citycreek.com. You would want to get, at minimum, the book and workbook (workbook is reproducible). Although kids can make their own “clue cards” for multiplication and division, you’d probably want at least one set of these also.
Once the facts are learned using MFFW, it can be a good idea to use a drill program to develop speed and automaticity. Quarter Mile Math is a good one for this. Website is http://www.thequartermile.com. You can call or email the company for a free demo disc.
Mary