Fun Ways to Learn Multiplication with Arrays

My daughter is really interested in math, and we try to discuss the concepts behind how math works maybe even more than trying to get her to memorize equations.

One thing that helps kids learn many new math skills — from counting to addition to multiplication — is using physical objects to represent the numbers you are working with.

Math Geek Mama explores how learning multiplication using arrays (a fancy word for a chart of physical objects) helps kids learn that multiplication is working with groups of numbers and that you get the same result whichever way you look at it (two groups of three is the same as three groups of two).

She offers lots of great ideas for teaching multiplication with arrays, often using items you might already have at home or in the classroom such as using counters on a checkerboard, punching holes in a piece of paper, using a Connect 4 board and more. It’s definitely worth checking out if you have kids learning multiplication.

[Photo: Math Geek Mom.]

Looking for more resources? Check out these board games for learning Math and Multiplication?

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Play Battleship with a Hundreds Chart

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

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