This post originally appeared on the weblog Planning Playtime.

When I wait back to my unproblematic years, one of the most difficult things I was asked to practice was memorize my multiplication tables. There were so many of them, and they seemed like strings of random numbers that I had to go on in order and in context with the numbers they were being multiplied by. I managed with the help of my retired teacher female parent and some quality time with wink cards, just it wasn't until I was much older that I realized how critical the mastery of multiplication tables is.

Several years ago, I was trying to assistance a couple of my neighbor girls who were in eye grade resource classes for declining math. They would come up over with their math books and sit at my kitchen table. Subsequently a few minutes of watching them stare at the bug with a hopeless look in their optics, I was shocked to realize the issue went well beyond the current fabric. They didn't know how to multiply without counting it out. Somehow the multiplication tables they should have learned four-5 years previously had evaded them, and they were substantially bedridden in math.

The trouble doesn't seem to be with the 2'southward, 5's, and 10's. These tables have an obvious pattern and are much easier to learn, but in that location is a serious slow-downward as kids striking the 3'south, 4's, and 6's. By the time they go to the seven'due south, 8'south, and ix's, I've watched children make up one's mind that multiplication is fashion too difficult, and math just isn't their thing.

Fortunately for me, a wonderful third form teacher gave us the solution. It helped that he was male, and my 8-year-old girl had a major shell on him. She ate up every discussion that man said, so when he taught her to skip count to some familiar tunes she came abode singing her math just for fun.

Simple trick for memorizing mupliplication tables - The best math hack you might have missed.

What is Skip Counting?

Skip counting is counting at intervals of whichever number you cull. For example, if I was to skip count by seven I would count, vii, xiv, 21… and then on. Using this method y'all can exercise single digit multiplication with ease. Say the teacher asks yous to multiply four 10 vii = __. Yous simply skip count 7'due south, 4 times, 7, 14, 21, 28. The respond to 4 ten vii = 28.

That withal leaves the trouble of memorizing a string of numbers, and here'southward where the magic is. Teach children to skip count to the tune of a unproblematic song. Have you always wondered why children tin learn the lyrics to songs and then hands? Information technology is considering music tin can be used equally a mnemonic device, that is a strategy to assist with memorization. If y'all can associate the numbers with the sounds in a song, the children volition not only learn them faster, but retain them much longer than they would memorizing them exclusively through repetition.

Get the Canvass Music

Super easy trick for learning multiplication tables. You'll want to pin this.

While at that place are several options out at that place for skip counting songs, my favorite are the skip counting songs to familiar children's tunes. That style your child doesn't take to worry about learning a tune, and can focus immediately on the numbers. My 2nd girl, now 8-years-former, was asked to learn her 8's this week. Afterwards singing the song but four times, she was already starting to skip count by herself. I've now started didactics them to my youngest children every bit early as kindergarten age considering they love to sing, and information technology'due south fun.

These songs take been a game changer for u.s., and nosotros wanted to share them with parents and teachers effectually the world. My oldest daughter and I recorded the songs for you and created simple animated videos to help the children sing forth. Since posting the videos, they have been used in tens of thousands of classrooms and homes beyond the globe, helping children master their multiplication tables. At the special request of teachers, I accept also created simple sheet music that can be printed and sent dwelling house for extra practice. You can detect the printable sheet music here.

*Photo Credit for the feature epitome goes to Poppies & Posies Photography! Check them out. They're amazing!!

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Planning PlaytimeAmy Nielson is the teaching-obsessed mother of 5 who blogs at PlanningPlaytime.com. The daughter of a retired teacher mother, she learned at an early age an absolute love of learning, and she tries to bring a scrap of joy and fun to everything she teaches. Having previously taught reading, preschool, and music, she is at present at habitation full fourth dimension teaching her preschooler to read and creating engaging, effective resources that her kids come up home and fight over. Cheque out her work in her TpT store. You tin can as well detect her sharing bully ideas on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.