Multiplication

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are starting our multiplication unit today! In a short amount of time we have already memorized our 0s and 1s facts! We are now working on memorizing our 2s. Something that is new this year, due to the change in the Massachusetts State Frameworks, is that we won't be practicing up to 12x12 (as our 1st term report card says), but we will be practicing up to 10x10. I will teach students the trick with the 11s, but I will not be expecting any child to memorize or master the 11s or 12s facts.

As our unit progresses, I will be switching students on xtramath whom are still on addition or subtraction over to multiplication. This is to give them the opportunity to practice their multiplication facts nightly (and not in addition to their other fact practice). If you have any questions or concerns about me switching your child over, please let me know and I'll be happy to discuss it with you. I plan to make the switch after our winter break to give children a chance to finish up their addition/subtraction facts. If you rather me switch your child over sooner, please send me an email and I will do it. The only downside to Xtramath is that it does have your child practice up to 12x12. If you child becomes stuck with the 11 and 12 facts later in this unit, then we can discuss moving your child on from multiplication to division fact practice.

In addition to Xtramath there are plenty of wonderful resources and games out there for fun ways of practicing the facts. There are many apps out there as well as websites that make fact practice fun. On our classroom blog I have complied some fun websites for the kids to use. Please check out: Multiplication and Divison for those suggestions. If you find any other great websites that you'd me to add to my list, please let me know! I am always on the look out for more options!

We are also learning some games that you can play with dice or playing cards that can also make it fun to play at home. The children also learned the "red light challenge" multiplication fact game today in class that they can play while they are in the car stuck at a red light. 

Please help encourage your child's automaticity by making sure they practice every night with their facts. If there is any other suggestions or ideas you'd like me to share, feel free to give me a call or send me and email and I'm happy to find more options for your child.

Happy multiplying!