Question about Multiplication Facts

[tnahid]

Another question:
My son (3rd grade level math) doesn't know his multiplication tables. Should I drill him on these? It seems that the math curr. I am using, (Teaching Textbooks) doesn't do any multiplication drilling. I emailed them to ask about this, and they said don't worry about it, that the 4th grade level would go over it more.

Is memorizing multiplication tables a thing of the past or what?

Thanks!

[pjdobro]

Singapore doesn't seem to go into the memorization of the multiplication tables too much either. Rather they give strategies to help dc be able to figure out some of the more difficult multiplication numbers, i.e. 7, 8, 9. They are visited often though and that seems to help cement them. I'm really old school though and felt that my dc really needed to memorize the multiplication tables. I wasn't that way about addition or subtraction facts since I feel those are learned over time by using them often and even when they are forgotten, they can be easily and quickly figured out. I didn't feel multiplication was the same since it seemed to take too long to figure out. I must say though that was before we reached the Singapore lessons that taught quick strategies of how to figure out some of those higher numbers. Before we had gotten to that though I had already started working with my dc to memorize the multiplication facts. We used a visual story approach called Times Tales. It worked really well and my dc loved the stories. They still don't have the quick recall that some children have after being drilled, but it's good enough recall to work the problems in a timely manner. Over time, I'm sure they'll get quicker. Not that it really matters, but in ps around here, they still memorize the times tables in 3rd grade. HTH!

[tnahid]

Thanks, Patty. That is helpful. I will look into Times Tales. I have never heard of that. Sounds interesting!

Thank you!