Multiplication
Concepts

What is Multiplication?

This video models the progression of how to teach multiplication. From equal groups, to arrays and connecting those concepts to repeated addition. It includes extra concepts such as x1, x10, and a 9s finger strategy tip.  See the Multiplication Facts webpage for more information on teaching math facts fluency.

MULTIPLICATION READ ALOUDS

Books can be a powerful, yet fun and engaging way to introduce vocabulary and connect concepts. When doing math problems, you can refer back to these books to help your child build the connection and help them recall what is happening.  Above all, reading a math story can be beneficial for kids because they can see the problem solving process in action, through characters who also struggle with math. This shows them that math takes time, trial and error; mistakes are ok. You can find the books below on YouTube, Amazon, or the library.

2X2= Boo

by Loreen Leedy is a fun collection of Halloween themed stories to teach the multiplication facts for 0-5. The focus of these stories is on groups of equal parts.

Click here for free practice pages and activities that go with the story.

Two of Everything

by Lily Hong is a really cute folktale in which a magical pot doubles whatever is put in it. This could be a fun introduction or a good way to work on the 2’s facts.

The Best of Times

by Greg Tang is a fantastic book! The fun rhymes can help with memorizing the facts, but also include helpful strategies for solving the facts from 0-10.

Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream

 by Cindy Neuschwander is another fun book that will help kids see the importance of multiplication. The focus of this book is on repeated addition (and why multiplication is a “faster way to count”). The pictures also includes lots of examples of arrays. There are also activity ideas included in the back of the book.

How Do You Count a Dozen Ducklings?

by Seon Chae is a cute tale of a mother duck and her many ducklings. The book shows all the different ways to make 12, and also demonstrates the commutative property.

Breakfast at Danny's Diner

by Judith Stamper is a fun early reader that gives kids a glimpse at multiplication in real life. It also includes examples of doubling a recipe.

Spunky Monkeys on Parade

by Stuart Murphy includes fun rhymes and silly pictures and focuses on skip counting by 2’s, 3’s and 4’s.

Arctic Fives Arrive

by Elinor Pinczes is such a great book! The adorable rhyme tells the tale of arctic animals arriving 5 at a time for a special event. Not only does it teach counting by 5’s, but is a fun way to learn about arctic animals.

Count on Pablo

by Barbara deRubertis is another fun early reader that shows kids skip counting in real life.

Minnie's Diner

by Dayle Ann Dodds is a funny tale, with pictures that kids will love. This book focuses on multiplying by 2.

Now... for My Next Number!

by Margaret Park is similar to The Best of Times. Unique and silly rhymes are told for each of the multiplication facts. This book also includes a cd, so kids can sing the songs to help them learn.

7 X 9 = Trouble!

by Claudia Mills is a more advanced chapter book, which includes some tips for learning multiplication, but also shares a boy’s anxiety and feelings about learning the facts and passing his tests. If you have a child who is math anxious, or frustrated with learning the times tables, they may appreciate this story!

Math Attack!

by Joan Horton is similar to 7×9=Trouble, but for younger kids. This is a great way to encourage math anxious kids!

Stacks of Trouble

by Matha F. Brenner. Mike, the main character in the book tries to avoid washing the dishes until they multiply and his dad catches him in the act.  This book embeds multiplication facts throughout the story to calculate the number of dishes that Mike needs to wash.  

Multiplying Menace

by Pam Calbert. This creative story tells a tale of Rumpelstiltskin….but with multiplication! This book is fun because it gives a lot of opportunities for the teacher to pause and ask students to solve the problems in the book and predict what will happen. 

Bats on Parade

by Kathi Appelt. A great book for introducing arrays and how they relate to multiplication.

Each Orange Had 8 Slices

by Paul Gianti. This is a great book for an introduction to multiplication and how we might see multiplication in a word problem. Each page has a different scenario that shows multiplication and asks students a few questions about “how many in all” which you can answer together as a class. 

The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Multiplication Book

by Jerry Pallotta. A classroom favorite because it combines math and chocolate! The book has some great visuals and even shows students how a Hershey’s candy bar is an array. This is great for introducing basic multiplication concepts.