From: Cindy (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: Sep 08, 1998 at 22:08:00
Subject: Re: Teaching multiplication to SED/SLD middle schoolers

I teach my students this trick for learning the multiplication tables from 6 
x 6 to 9 x 9.  (They have to memorize the tables from 1's to 5's).  

Make a fist with each hand.  Each fist represents 5.  On one hand, stick out 
3 fingers.  You now have 8 (fist of 5 plus 3 fingers = 8).  On the other 
hand, stick out 1 finger.  You now have 6 (fist of 5 plus 1 finger = 6).  The 
multiplication problem you have just modeled is 8 x 6.  

Here's how to read the answers from your fingers:
Count the number of fingers sticking out (3 + 1 = 4).  That represents 40.
Count the number of fingers tucked under each fist (2 and 4).  2 x 4 = 8.
So, 8 x 6 = 40 + 8 or 48.

The only 'tricky' ones are 6 x 7 and 6 x 6.  For 6 x 7 you get 3 fingers up 
(30) and (4 x 3 = 12) fingers down.  For 6 x 6 you get 2 fingers up (20) and 
(4 x 4 = 16) fingers down.

 -Cindy, for the Teacher2Teacher service

Post a public discussion message
Ask Teacher2Teacher a new question