How to Teach Multiplication Tables

Teaching kids is one of the most rewarding albeit challenging tasks. You need to be patient and should also know some effective teaching strategies. A good solid understanding of the basics will help your child to not only excel in school but in his later years as well. Teaching a kid mathematics is difficult but it is one of those tasks that you absolutely need to do well. There are ways and means of teaching multiplication tables so that your kid grasps it quickly. The best way to teach multiplication tables is by making them understand how multiplication works and how it is actually repeated addition.

Best Way to Teach Multiplication Tables

Many parents attempt to teach multiplication to their children by making them memorize the multiplication table. Although there is no doubt that knowing the multiplication table by heart makes it easier and faster to do double digit multiplication, yet asking children to memorize without explaining how multiplication works is not a good idea. Many children struggle in memorizing the multiplication tables and this leads to fear of multiplication tables and mathematics in general. Before you teach them the multiplication table, you have to explain them that multiplication is actually repeated addition.

For example explain to him that 3 x 2 = 6 is actually nothing but 3+3 = 6. similarly 3 x 3 = 9 is nothing more than adding 3+3+3 which equals 9. Once they understand this basic concept, they will be much more amenable to learning the multiplication tables. Your child might ask you why he needs to learn the multiplication tables, when he can add the numerals and come up with the answer. Explain to him how adding bigger numbers is difficult and how knowing the multiplication tables will allow him to solve mathematical problems quickly.

Creative Ways to Teach Multiplication Tables

If you are wondering how to teach multiplication tables quickly, then you can also employ creative methods for teaching multiplication tables. One such method is the use of graph paper. Purchase graph papers that comes with big squares. Now explain to your child the concept of multiplication as detailed below. Suppose you need to explain 6 x 2 = 12. Now take the graph paper and ask your kids to color 6 rows with 2 squares in each row. Next ask them to count the total number of squares that they have colored which is 12. This is the answer to 6 times 2. This is a very good method to teach multiplication tables, as children will enjoy coloring the squares and this will give them a better understanding of multiplication.

Another creative method that you can use for teaching multiplication table is by using beads and a bead box that comes with different compartments. When you ask your children how much is 3 X 4 they will need to place three beads each in four different compartments. The total number of beads in the bead box is the required answer which is 12. This method will no doubt test your patience as children will end up playing with the beads or losing them. But even if they understand the basic concept of multiplication, it is well worth the effort.

This was all about some methods that you can employ for teaching multiplication tables to kids. Knowing the tables is invaluable and you have to work at it to make your kids learn them by heart. Now that you know how to teach multiplication tables, you can start with the arithmetic lessons.