Multiplication!

Today the students in Room 148 did their first timed multiplication exam.  We did a sheet of 80 random multiplication problems.  It is recommended that they be timed for two minutes.  In order to reduce some of the "time test" anxiety, I gave them six minutes and ten seconds.  These are the results:

 Score           Students With Score in That Range

0 - 10                               1

11 - 20                              3

21 - 30                              6

31 - 40                              3

41 - 50                              6

51 - 60                              0

61 - 70                              1

(By the way, here is the test they took in printable, PDF format, for practice, hint...hint...)

It is the second day of school, and our brains are a little rusty, but overall it shows me that we have a ways to go until we can say, "We know our multiplication facts."  I feel like the kids should know their 0's, 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's.  A student only knowing those would have scored a 40 on today's time test.  It seemed that whether I gave them two minutes or six minutes or ten minutes, they knew what they knew, and their scores wouldn't have changed much.  In general, we feel that when a 4th grader can answer around 60 random multiplication facts in two minutes, that student has "mastered" the facts.  That's our goal for every 4th grader!

We will be hitting it pretty hard now, with working on learning our multiplication (and division) facts.  For the next two or three weeks, it's basically all we will do in Math.  We call it "Unit 0", or our "Fluency Unit".  Everything that follows (Units 1 - 12) will require students to have a good grasp on their Math facts.  

"What can I do to help?"

Hopefully, you are asking yourself this question!  There is no magic formula for learning multiplication facts.  Flash cards for a few minutes every night is a great way to develop fluency.  Another good way to learn and practice them is through playing Math games on the computer or other electronic device.  Here are three links to sites that will help your 4th grader learn the facts:

Multiplication.com - One of our favorites here at school.  Most of the games can be customized to your child's level.  If your 4th grader can't find a fun game here, they're not really looking!
Multiplication Madness! - Great for studying, learning and practicing.
Math Magician Games - Awesome for practicing individual fact groups

One cautionary word: don't let kids just play the games on the "lower" levels (0's, 1's and 2's).  Challenge them to play harder levels that require them to know harder Math facts.  That's the only way they'll learn them!

Together, I'm expecting that we can make the 4th graders feel confident in their mastery of the basic multiplication and division facts.  It will make their 4th grade Math experience that much better!

Thanks for your help!