I am slowly introducing multiplication to sonshine. I find this is one tough topic to teach. I have been using a variety of methods to teach him but haven't quite find the right one yet.
I remember i was taught multiplication purely by memorising and had no clue what it was all about until much later. I don't want that for my kid.
The first thing i want Sonshine to understand about multiplication is that it is actually repeated addition.
I have been verbally telling him that 2X3 means adding 2 three times.
I have to pause here and ask...what does 2X3 mean? Does it mean 2 sets of 3 or 3 sets of 2? Does it matter?
Moving on...
Sonshine boy didn't seem to get the concept. So i decided to use my good old Montessori ten beads again. I realised teaching multiplication by ten is much easier for the kid to understand.
I wrote the ten timestable on blue cards and presented to N one card at a time. Starting from 10X1 (i wrote 1 in red) and took out 1 set of the ten beads, 10X2, i took 2 sets of ten beads etc. As expected, Sonshine boy was hooked and understood the concept instantly. He was able to tell me the answers mentally.
Next i showed him that say 10X4, means adding 10 Four times. I took each and counted '10+10+10+10 equals 40!' I also wrote the addition on pink cards.
Then i took out the other pink cards i.e. 10+10 and 10+10+10 and have him matched to the blue (multiplication) cards. I knew he understood the theory when he was able to match the cards correctly.
As you know I did the opposite way as you. I taught Yvette to recite it first which not exactly my intention.
ReplyDeleteI love this concept and I will think I will teach Yvette your idea.
Thanks Sunflower! I couldn't quite find the right method to teach toddlers multiplication...hope this works! :P
ReplyDeleteA very nice method.
ReplyDeleteAnother easy way can be by using the Montessori Peg board. If you have to teach 10 times 6, then ask him to insert 10 pegs in a row and then explain him to make 6 such rows. As he is comfortable counting by 10's, he will learn this well and also be able to visualize the answers.
Keep sharing. It helps me.
I personally think this is the proper way to teach kids multification, rather thn recite, they should understand the proper concept!
ReplyDeleteSo so advanced! I read this and think, "wow, are we EVER going to get there? maybe one day!" Great job! :) Very inspiring for newbies like us.
ReplyDeleteSeema: I didnt use the peg board cos i felt it didn't bring the idea that multiplication is repeated addition across to the child very well. But now that you brought it back to my mind again, i may use it for him to practise the 6X table and above! :))
ReplyDeleteP&R: At the rate E is going, i will not be suprise it will be very well soon that she learns multiplication! Keep up the awesome work you're doing!
he is such an inspiration!
ReplyDeletei want to memorize - 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 (ok, i lost count, does it multiply to a million?)
That's what I need - A MILLION BUCKS or more
so i'm multiplying now..10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10.......
It is amazing that your Sonshine is learning multiplication at this age! It's definitely better to teach it this way than pure memorization. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway to answer your question, there is a difference between 2X3 and 3X2. The former means 2 groups of 3 and the latter, 3 groups of 2. Of course the answer comes up to be the same, but the concept is different. This concept is in line with division. 6 divided into 2 groups gives you 3 in each group but 6 divided into 3 groups gives you 2 in each.... etc etc.
But I guess, most of the time, ppl don't really care as long as you can get the correct answer! :)
Finally! Someone came to my rescue! Thanks ING! I realised there was a difference when i was snooping about the primary assesment books. I want to be consistent with the local syllabus. As it is, sonshine boy was already confused when i flipped the equation the other way around! So i better do it right at the first start! Thanks ING for your help- appreciate it!!! :)))
ReplyDelete