I have a child who really struggles to memorize his multiplication and division facts. They just don’t stick in his brain–so many other things are much more interesting to think about! Esther has been helping a local family for a few hours a day with their homeschooling, and she came home one day asking for advice for their children who have a similar problem. I suggested making speed drills for each multiplication and division table, to help them practice. She set to work and soon had them made up for each table from 1-12, with four different arrangements for each table. Genius! This way, it’s hard to memorize the pattern of answers. She also came up with charts to track the progress.
I have been having both Mr. Sweetie and Mr. Imagination use the multiplication speed drills. I time them on two of the speed drills each day, and the goal is to get below 30 seconds for each table. I figure that if they can write down 12 answers in 30 seconds, they know those facts pretty well! Of course, instant recall on multiplication facts will make all of math much easier, which is why we spend time focusing on them. I have them keep practicing until they get below 30 seconds three times in a row.
If you think this kind of speed drill would help your child, you are welcome to download and print these pages. I hope they can be a blessing to you!
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