Need to Learn Your Facts??

Every year is a struggle with students needing to learn their multiplication facts. It would be easy to blame the student's previous teachers. However, because I moved to fifth grade a couple years ago, I had the opportunity to teach the same kids. I was their previous teacher. In order for students to be successful in the fifth grade, they need to have their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts memorized.

I have found the only way to truly accomplish this is what teachers call Kill and Drill. The title is much scarier than the actual task. The best way for me to learn something and retain it is to complete the activity over and over again. I would recommend buying flash cards (check out the dollar stores) or downloading them online (free).

Once you have the flash cards, start with the "easier" facts. With multiplication, this is the 0s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, and 11s. When those have been memorized, you are halfway there! Next, 3s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, and 12s. Often it seems students will have most of their facts memorized and at this point is when the games can come in! Games reinforce what students already know! Students, feel free to use this excuse freely with your parents: "Mom and/or dad, I need to play on the computer in order to memorize my multiplication facts. Ms. Browne said it is good for me!"

Below are a couple websites that have flash games. They are free! I also recommend Googling "multiplication games." There are new websites popping up all the time! Please let me know if you find a good one!