Question about mulitiplication memorization

[Larissa]

My ds 9 is doing Preparing this year. It's going very well! He is doing Rod and Staff 4 and Singapore Math 4A. It's all a very good fit for him and he is really enjoying the Preparing manuel.

Math is a bit of a challenge, however. He completed Math 3B successfully, so I had no qualms at all about moving on to 4A. However, I keep thinking as we do each new page in 4A, that things would go so much more smoothly for him if he had his multiplication tables memorized. I am curious to find out how others handle this. Do you require memorization? He can figure out the answer by counting by whatever number he's multiplying, but that takes a while. I am tempted to completely stop 4A and work on memorizing the tables before moving on.

I'd love to hear what others are doing ... or not doing, for that matter. I don't want to make a big deal about it, if it's not a big deal. Won't he have trouble as time goes on if he doesn't have them memorized? My husband said he never memorized them, and he had great success in advanced maths through college. He got an engineering degree.

Am I making this a big deal?

[faithful2him]

With our younger son, he has learned his addition and subtraction facts. However, if we don't keep working them, he starts to drag a little and forgets them. So, we now do fact drills 3x a week. it is helping and making a difference. That may not be the approach some would use, but I would do that with multiplication facts as well.

Good luck.

[Mercy]

I have my son go through his "1's"...1x1=1, 1x2=2, etc. Holding up a finger for which number he is multiplying as he goes through all of the "1s." So, as he Goes through the multiples of one he will hold up a finger for each thing he is multiplying to. Dont know if that makes sense, but it is a super simple way to learn the tables...we can be anywhere and I will say "tell me your sixes" and he will put up a finger and say, "6x1=6", put up another finger and say 6x2=12. Simple! That being said, he did not use singapore. Many have said they didnt feel like it was nexessary.

Hope that helps!
Mercy

[Tansy]

I used a supplemental program with my dd1 called rapid recall. but it is designed for Kids with sensory issues. It teaches on a multi-sensory approach hear, see, say and touch... It worked.

Since for her to do math its very hard having mastery in the basic facts has helped quiet a lot.

I haven't felt the need to do the program with my nuro typical child as she just figures out her math in her head most of the time.

[pjdobro]

I don't know if it is necessary, but since I felt it was from my own schooling, I made my dc work on memorizing their multiplication tables. I wouldn't say that they have the kind of quick recall that ps kids have that do drills everyday and have to recite them multiple times, but they have quick enough recall to be able to figure it out quick enough for doing the math in their heads. I really do think over time with use, dc will remember the facts without having to drill them. I didn't really use a drill type program. I used Times Tales and that just gave them a picture and a story to help remember the facts. That worked quickly. We spent maybe ten minutes a day for a couple of weeks and that was enough.

[doubleportion]

We have added in 15 minutes of math drill for quite a few years. Dd didn't do anything during summer break and when we started she was really rusty on her multiplication facts again. It seems to help keep them fresh in her mind. I use multiplication rap and printable sheets for her math drill every day. Math is her weakest subject. She is in Singapore 4A right now.

Edie

[8arrows]

We have used Quarter-Mile Math, Flashmaster and Math-It over the years for fact memorization.