Multisensory Multiplication

It's pretty much a given that learning multiplication is an important part of any students math career. I also bet that plenty of you have nearly pulled your hair out trying to find ways to learn the times tables with your children.

Whilst some may argue that as long as the child understands the concept then there is no need for the rote memorisation of the times tables themselves. We live in an age where those answers, if need be, are very easy to come by.

I tend to agree with this sentiment, to a point, because if you do take the time to memorise the times tables it sure makes things a whole bunch simpler when moving onto other mathematical concepts.

The question I ask though, does learning the times tables really need to be so damn tedious and boring?

I think, absolutely not!

We are right in the thick of times table territory now so I've gathered all of my supplies together in the one place and I thought I'd share some of them with you.

Our little Monkey Multiplier is a simple device that can easily sit beside the child as they are working on problems.

If they are stumped on a times table problem simply point his toes to the two numbers you wish to multiply and the answer will appear in his hands.

Such a simple idea, but he's so cute to look at!

We've had this guy for quite some time and I really have no idea where I purchased him from.

Learning Wrap Ups are a great hands on tool for practice on the go.

At just 15 centimetres long they are small enough to take in the car.

To use you simply start at the designated starting point and wrap the string around the correct answer, slowly working your way to the bottom of the key.

When finished secure the string at the notch on the bottom of the key. Turn the key over and if your string matches the line markings on the back then you have each answer correct!

Timez Attack is another staple in our home. I attribute this little game to enabling my son to get his times tables down pat. We've never sat and chanted the times tables in a rote fashion. He simply played Timez Attack on a regular basis.

This computer game works on a simple premise of challenges through a castle environment. To get through the stages the player needs to answer the times table questions correctly.

I love these simple Twist & Check Card Games because they are a great way for me to easily get involved. Just by playing a few rounds I can tell quite quickly how we are going when it comes to grasping the tables.

The ones on the left from The learning Ladder are particularly good because you begin with the first pack of 'easy time tables' and then move on to the second pack.

Math U See is our spine when it comes to Multiplication. This is a no bells and whistles program but it is thorough, it teaches well and it gets the job done in a multi sensory way and we will never not use this program.

By combining the video lessons, the workbooks, blocks and all of our other multiplication tools we can generally find something that will appeal to the children on any given day.

Times Tales is a program that's been around for quite some time. I remember seeing the books when they first released them.

They now have them in a new animated version and I can't wait to see how they are received by the kids.

We also own a couple of different times tables song discs, although so far these are not something that have really had much use.

The children haven't overly enjoyed this type of learning and with everything else we have we really haven't needed them. I think this option will be purely a personal one, some kids will love them and others won't.

Check out you tube also as there are heaps of fun times table songs and videos over there.

Posters, again whilst we don't really use these a rote memorisation tool, when we are in the thick of times table territory I always hang a couple around the house.

My sneaky one is to hang a poster behind the toilet door.  One can't help but to sit their chanting the tables in their head ;-)

We also have a few different multiplication books and pull them out if and when needed, especially if we are looking for something different to do.

My daughter made this little treasure box some time ago as part of our Arthimetic Village program.

These are lovely little stories that cover all the basic math operations.

Playing with the counters in the treasure box is such a nice way to explore math concepts.

So whilst I do feel that getting those times tables down pat is an asset to your child's mathematical career there is no way that it needs to be boring.

How do you learn the times tables in your home? Have something different to share, please leave some details in the comments.

If you looking for more even more multiplication ideas be sure to take a look at my Math Pinterest Board.

Follow Our Worldwide Classroom's board Subjects: Math on Pinterest.

Happy Homeschooling,
Kylie

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Have you looked at my Pinterest Boards lately?


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This post is part of the 2016 Virtual Curriculum Fair. This week the theme is all about discovering patterns through math and science. Please visit some of my fellow homeschool bloggers as they share their posts on the theme. See their links below.

Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses - Thoughts on Math and Science

Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset  - From Counting to Calculus

Laura @ Day by Day in Our World  - How We Approach Math in This Homeschool Year

Annette @ A Net In Time - Struggling with Math, Loving Science

Annette @ A Net In Time  - Lego Pulleys and Levers

Yvie @ Gypsy Road Hands - On Math with Special Needs Learners

Chelli @ The Planted Trees  - Chemistry Using Living Books

Lisa @ GoldenGrasses  - An Appalling Lack of Curiosity

Edie @ Carter Chaos  - Our Favorite Ways to Study Numbers

Tracey @ A Learning Journey  - Robot Area and Perimeter Art Project

Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life  - Math and Standardized Tests

Jen @ Chestnut Grove Academy  - Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science

Sarah @ DeliveringGrace  - Learning Multiplication Tables

Kylie @ Our Worldwide Classroom  - Multisensory Multiplication

Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break  - Science and Stuff

Kemi @ Homemaking Organized  - Math in Our Homeschool for a Later Elementary Organized Reader

Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory  - Math and Logic - Our Steady Path

Laura @ Four Little Penguins  - Math and Science Love

Language Arts In Our Homeschool

Have you all seen the Virtual Curriculum Fair Posts over the last couple of years?

A great bunch of homeschool bloggers all get together and create, via their blogs, a virtual curriculum fair.

Looking for new curriculum resources?

Then be sure to check out all of the fair links to see what others are using in their home schools.

So let's take a look at what we do around here for the Language Arts component of our home school.

Phonics ~ Learning To Read

Fitzroy Reading Program -  This is what I would call the spine of our learning to read program. All
three of my children have either used this or are currently working their way through the program.

The Fitzroy program is made up of a large set of leveled readers, which they have now converted to be used as an App. This makes them a fabulous portable tool and a much more affordable option.

Each set of 10 readers also has a go along workbook, this covers the phonics that is being learned in the readers, along with spelling, grammar, composition and vocabulary. Although I personally don't feel that this is enough for a complete program, it does give you good starting off points to cover these in more detail.

Explode The Code ~ We supplement with E.T.C. These are very simple, methodical workbooks that focus on phonics. What I love about them is that once the child has mastered the first few lessons they know exactly what to expect from future lessons. Whilst they will be learning new sounds or combinations of sounds the layout of each lesson is exactly the same.

Easy Read System ~ My daughter has struggled with her reading. Late last year we were introduced to the Easy Read Program, which she has been using and is coming to the end of her lessons. We've seen a vast improvement using this program, in combination with her regular language arts lessons.

Logic Of English ~ We've also been introduced to L.O.E this year so have been working on a way to get that it into the mix. So far I am very impressed with what I've seen. It is an extremely thorough program that works on teaching the phonograms and how that all relates to reading and spelling. It also contains a grammar portion for those that wish to use it.

Handwriting ~ Penmanship

Penmanship is covered to some extent within both the Fitzroy and the Explode The Code programs. We also use copywork as an added penmanship tool.

Writing

Cover Story Writing ~ my eldest is just over half way through the Cover Story Writing program. He's not a writer and this is not something he enjoys doing so I am thankful that Cover Story introduces various writing types and concepts in different ways.

Narrations ~ narrating is what helped my eldest to really take off in his writing so it is something that we try to do when we can. We use oral narrations, with myself as scribe for younger non writers.

Here To Help Learning ~ the younger two, along with our small family group micro school are working their way through this writing program currently. I have a full review to post shortly on this program but in a nutshell we are loving it!

Grammar

The grammar that is provided in The Fitzroy Program is more than enough for the younger kids and I don't really worry too much about it until they are reading and writing well. Then they can actually see a use for what they are learning.

My eldest uses the Grammar component in Cover Story Writing (which they only have two lessons left) and has just started with the grammar in Logic of English. When we have time we also very slowly work our way through the book we have from IEW's Fix It grammar series.

Reading

We read aloud daily, myself to the kids and then they also read aloud books to us as a group. They also have their own personal selection of books, most of which they choose themselves, to read.

They are part of a small, casual Roald Dahl Book Club, where slowly the group is making their way through his books. We gather to discuss the book, work on a few fun activities and if possible watch the movie.

This year for my eldest we've started a teen book club, this term we are reading John Marsden, Tomorrow When The War Began. We meet each week with a group of teens to discuss the book and undertake various activities together. I have been very pleasantly surprised to see how much they are all enjoying the book club.

It seems like such a lot when I list it all out here, so please don't feel that we use all of this every single day, because we don't. We mix it up so that everything does get utilised over the course of the week though.

Not relying solely on one program works for us. We aren't getting bored using the same thing day in and day out and from past experience no one program covers it all anyway.

Happy Homeschooling,
Kylie

Come on over and join me at

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Looking for more Language Arts Ideas?
Visit my Pinterest Board.


Follow Our Worldwide Classroom's board Subjects - Language Arts on Pinterest.

This year the Virtual Curriculum Fair is hosted by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World, Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses and Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset. Language Arts: Words Make the World Go Round by  Laura @ Day by Day in Our World The Language Arts in Our Homeschool and Everything Relating to it   by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory Teaching Elementary Latin by Yvie @ Gypsy Road How to Learn ASL & Spanish in 20 Minutes a Day by Rochelle @ RochelleBarlow Classical Word Study by Lisa @ GoldenGrasses Language Arts Means and Methods by Laura @ Four Little Penguins Sprechen Sie....  by Jennifer King @ A Peace of Mind The Art of Eloquence  by Jennifer King @ A Peace of Mind Love Languages by Jennifer King @ A Peace of Mind 3 Reasons You Don't Have To Be Afraid To Grade That Essay - And It's Free @ LJSkool High School Language Arts by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break Words, Words, and More Words by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses Finishing Strong - Starting Gently by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset