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Visualizing the Numbers (Part III)

© Vidya Narayan Wadadekar

Let us now focus on learning the multiplication table.

Recall how we learned the multiplication tables. Most of us were provided with a readymade multiplication table / chart by the teacher on the blackboard. We copied the same into our notebooks carefully. Very first time teacher guided us to singsong it. Then onwards everyday the mathematics class used to begin with the singsong of the multiplication table copied down in our notebooks. Writing out the multiplication table was a everyday chore of our homework. Teacher sometimes used to check how well we have memorized the multiplication table by asking some multiplications. Those failed simply had not worked hard enough and required more singsong repetition or more written work.

I do not have to use this type of mechanical chanting for my children any more, for I can provide them with concrete experiences of building the multiplication tables.

Children in my class can have their own sets of patterns for numbers 1 to 10. This is possible as in India what we call beauty spots, which women wear on their forehead as a part of beautification, are available locally in various sizes, shapes, and colors. These are really inexpensive and could be stuck very easily on any surface. With the help of these spots and cardboard paper my children can own a very good learning aid.

Portion of a multiplication table built by the children is presented in the figure above. Children having this concrete experience of building up his/her own multiplication table develop a meaningful understanding. Moreover, this experience enables them to see the number relationships and discover the multiplication table on their own.

Once children see some sense in what they are learning. The drill then could be undertaken without any problem, as they have a good base to know what they are committing to their memory and why it is useful for them.

It is my experience that children enjoy this constructive way of learning multiplication table and develop liking for arithmetic.

Once children are through the activity of building up their own multiplication table, the activities that a teacher can undertake could be found on many web sites. I would mention a few with their details.

The web site http://mathvidya.tripod.com/math provides opportunity for checking how accurately children have mastered the multiplication table. Another web site http://www.quia.com/cc/6.html provides practice for multiplication problems for numbers one through 12. A play way approach is used for problem solving. For example, children are