Multiplication Strategies

I am teaching multiple strategies to assist in solving multiplication problems.  We have solved problems using the strategies described below.  Please encourage your child to use these strategies when solving multiplication problems.

REPEATED ADDITION
In this strategy, students see the multiplication problem as an addition problem.  For example, 6 x 8 can be solved by adding 6 to itself 8 times, or by 8 to itself 6 times.  Your child's work may look like this: 
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6         8
  6       +8
  6        48
+6
48

This strategy works well with single-digit multiplication and some two-digit problems.  It is not going to work for all problems.

ARRAYS
Physical arrays or models are another effective means to solving multiplication problems.  This is a pictorial representation of the problem.  In the problem 6 x 8, students will draw 6 rows and place 8 objects in each row.  This is how it would look:
1 ********
2 ********
3 ********
4 ********
5 ********
6 ********
Once the student has drawn the array, all that's left to do is to count the total number of obects (48) to determine the answer.  The student could also solve the same problem using 8 rows with 6 objects in each row.

NUMBER LINE
This strategy requires students to be strong skip counters and to utilize addition strategies.  Students draw an empty number to assist in solving the problem.  Here is how this would look when solving 6 x 8:

The student made 6 jumps of 8 and ended at 48.  This could also be done with 8 jumps of 6. 

Multiplication

We have started learning our basic multiplication facts!!!  The program I am utilizing is called "Times Tables the Fun Way!"  This program teaches the students stories and songs to assist them in remembering some of the most commonly missed facts.  Here are the facts and the stories we have learned thus far:
3 x 3 = 9  the three blind mice
3 x 4 = 12  and 4 x 3 = 12 the cheerleaders
8 x 8 = 64 the snowmen
7 x 7 = 49 the soldiers
4 x 4 = 16 the hang glider
6 x 4 = 24 and 4 x 6 = 24 the magic pond
8 x 7 = 56 and 7 x 8 = 56 the trampoline
6 x 6 = 36 the thirsty sixes
3 x 6 = 18 bigfoot
6 x 8 = 48 the birthday cake
3 x 7 = 21 butterfly tree
7 x 4 = 28 fireman
7 x 6 = 42 high jump
8 x 4 = 32 pigs
Your child should be able to retell these stories. We have also learned the zeros, ones, twos, fives, and nines.  Your child should be familiar with the commutative property, identity property (when you multiply by 1, the answer is always the other number), and the zero property.  They should also know the terms factor and product.