Learning Multiplication Facts

Dear Third Grade Families,

          An important part of the third grade math program involves memorizing the multiplication facts. I am sending home a booklet of the strategies children have learned in the classroom and several board games to help students practice using those strategies. 

          Students have learned the 0’s, 1’s, and 2’s, times tables, and it is our goal to have the 3’s times table memorized now. Students have learned that they can use x2 facts to solve x3 facts.  If I know 2 x 8 equals 16, then I know that 3 x 8 is just one more set of 8, and 16 + 8 = 24. 

2 x 8 = 16, so

3 x 8 = 16 + 8 = 24.

          Please let me know if you have any questions about the multiplication strategies in the attached strategy booklet.  It is a different way of learning multiplication facts than the way that many of us learned growing up, but the strategies make sense.  The goal is to use known facts to solve unknown facts.  For example, x5 facts are called “Half Tens Facts.”  I can use 10 x 7 to solve 5 x 7.  I know 10 x 7 = 70, and 5 x 7 is half that number of sevens.  Half of 70 is 35.

10 x 7 = 70

Half of 70 = 35, so 5 x 7 = 35.

          Please help your child to practice the basic multiplication facts by playing the attached board games, building multiplication facts out of blocks or cereal, playing multiplication games online at Mrs. Simpson’s blog, or using flashcards.

                                                                   

Sincerely,

Keelin M. Simpson