What can you do when children don’t understand multiplication?

1. Start with what they all ready know and understand.
   They should already know that 2+3=5. Get some card/paper and on each piece of card write as below putting the addition symbol on the reverse of the “ADD” card. Ask the children to read the addition sum and ask them if they agree with it and that they understand it.
2. Now reverse the ADD card to show the symbol, check that they are happy with the ADD symbol and they understand what it means. Now you can move on to multiplication.
    
3. Show some more cards with the following words and numbers on and ask the children to do what the cards tell them to do.
    
4. Once your children have jumped 3 times you can reverse the “TIMES” card to show the symbol. Discuss turning the “TIMES” card over and confirm that they all understand the symbol and can relate it to the word. Again, ask the children to do what the cards tell them to do.
   If the children do not jump 3 times, go back to step 3 and explain the relationship between the word and the symbol.
    
5. Now you can move the “TIMES” card to the middle position and discuss with the children how if at all it changes the number sentence. You will need to come to the conclusion that changing the order does not change the meaning. Ask the children to do what the cards tell them to do.
    
6. Exchange the JUMP card for the number 3 card and check that the children still understand.
    
7. Next, give the children at least 3 cards each with the word jump on and instead of asking the children to physically jump, ask them to pick up a card. Each child should now have 3 cards in their hand. Discuss that JUMP X 3 is equal to 3.
    
8. Now write the number 2 on the reverse of all the pink JUMP cards and write the number 3 on the reverse of the blue JUMP card in the number sentence.(I think you might be able to see where this is going now ;-)
    
9. Finally, ask the children to pick up 3 “TIMES” 2 cards. Ask them to add up the numbers on the 3 cards i.e. 6.

 If at any stage the children do not understand, go back 1 step or even 2 if necessary.

You will probably need to repeat steps 8 and 9 for the children to fully understand the concept of multiplication using the word “TIMES”.

2

ADD

3

=

5

2

+

3

=

5

Jump

3

TIMES

Jump

3

X

Jump

X

3

3

X

JUMP

3

X

2