Multiplication Tables

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Home : 2004 : November : 22

Multiplication Tables
By Kathy

I have always made it a point to teach my third graders the multiplication tables. I tell them (tongue in cheek) they have to memorize them before they go to 4th grade. I always spent much time teaching songs, playing
games, etc. It was a lot of fun actually!
When I just taught third, I could never figure out why the 5th grade teachers were still teaching multiplication facts and giving them treats for memorizing them when we had "mastered" that clear back in third!! Now that I teach 3-4, I see why. Those third graders that "knew" them last spring didn't seem to rember them in the fall.
So it's

drill, drill, drill again! By the time they leave 4th grade they KNOW them!!! I get "thank yous" all the time from the 5th grade teacher because kids transfering in from other schools don't know the facts, but mine do.

Take home message for you here: Work really hard on memorizing those facts second semester, BUT know that they may "forget" by 4th grade. Tell the 4th grade teacher you will do everythig you can to help them in 3rd, but that it's still a new skill for them so she will need to continue the drills in 4th grade. Also, encourage your parents to practice with the third graders over the summer. It's difficult to do well in 4th grade math if you don't know your facts.