Multiplication Strategies

Third Grade is the year that students build upon their understanding of repeated addition and become fluent with their multiplication facts. The concept of multiplication is explored as repeated addition, skip counting, groups of equal objects, arrays, and the area model of multiplication. The progression is as follows:

- Multiplying any number by 0

- Multiplying any number by 1

- Multiplying any number by 2 (double the other factor)

- Multiplying any number by 10 (skip count by tens)

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 5 (skip count by fives)

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 4 (double the x2 fact)

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 8 (double the x4 fact)

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 3

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 6 (double the x3 fact)

- Multiplying any 1-digit number by 9 (multiply the factor x10 and then subtract the factor. . . ex: 6x9 is the same as (6x10)-6).

If a student follows this progression, it leaves 7x7 as the remaining fact to memorize.

Children needs lots of opportunities to practice these facts so they become committed to the long-term memory. Please help your child practice at home.