Web Resources for Teaching Grade 3-6 Students about Multiplication

BBC. (n.d.). Multiplication. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from KS2 Bitesize:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/number/multiplication/read1.shtml

This webpage is part of a larger website created by BBC, which has teaching resources
for many topics varying from English to math to science. For multiplication, in particular, the
website offers step-by-step directions to help students interactively learn their multiplication
facts through different tricks. Once the students have gone through the lesson, they can choose
between two different options. On one hand, they can practice with an interactive math game that
is slightly similar to flashcards, but more engaging. On the other hand, they can go straight to a
quiz to test what they remember. These sources are offered at different levels for students of
different current understandings. Overall, I like this website. While they only have a small
number of activities to help students practice and test their knowledge, I like the lessons offered
as well as the flexibility between levels.
Col, J. (2003). Multiplication Printouts. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from Enchanted Learning:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/math/multiply/

This webpage is part of a larger website, Enchanted Learning, which has teaching
resources for many topics. For multiplication, there are a larger number of activity worksheets
available, addressing multiplying with integers, decimals, and fractions. Additionally, it explains
the way a multiplication problem should be set-up vertically, providing names for each position
as well, like "the product". The printouts consist of early multiplication worksheets with animals
and familiar objects, making the activities friendly for younger children, and blank charts,
offering more complex evaluation and practice methods for advanced students. Overall, I like
this website because it not only covers common times tables, but it also covers other
multiplication facts as well. However, some things are only accessible if you pay a $20/year
membership, which appears to be a reasonable price if the large quantity of materials will be
effectively used.
Halsted, V. (n.d.). The Facts, Gimme Just The Facts! Retrieved October 28, 2009, from

Columbia Education Center: http://www.col-ed.org/cur/math/math02.txt

This webpage is written by V. Halsted, a teacher from Lincoln Elementary in Woodburn,

Oregon. Since these multiplication teaching strategies are presented by an actual teacher, and not
a corporation, it gives the strategies more credibility, showing that they have been successful
within real classrooms. The webpage simply describes specific teaching strategies to teach the
basic multiplication facts. Halstead writes, "Each skill builds upon and rests on the previous
skills learned," making it important that students successfully learn each multiplication fact in
order to not fall behind. I think the activities and procedures presented for teaching
multiplication facts are great ideas; in fact, there are some that I remember being taught in
elementary school, while others are brand new to me. Not only does Halsted offer a variety of
ideas, they encompass all of our senses, allowing us to reach out to auditory learners, visual
learners, etc. Overall, I like this website for finding ideas on how to teach specific multiplication
facts. Interactive games can be found on different websites.
Krimsten Publishing. (2009). Retrieved October 28, 2009, from Multiplication.com:

http://www.multiplication.com/

This website is entirely dedicated to providing a variety of resources for teaching

multiplication. It includes a large variety of games, resources varying from flashcards to
worksheets, and specific teaching strategies as well. There are so many games offered, each
relating to different children's interests such as cars, clothes, and ice cream. This allows each
student to personally choose a game that tailors to their interests, helping them to understand
their multiplication facts better and encouraging them to practice on their own time as well. The
website describes a number of strategies available, including not only the traditional rote
memory, but also music and rhyming activities. I like the overall website's method to teaching
multiplication because it is through multi-sensory lessons, appealing to auditory learners, visual
learners, etc. Overall, I like this website. It provides many options on how a teacher can reach
each individual student's needs. While many of the activities specifically relate to times tables, it
is still an overall effective website for multiplication in general.
Multiplication & Division Resources for Teachers. (2000). Retrieved October 28, 2009, from

TeacherVision: Lesson plans, printables, and more:

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/multiplication/teacher-resources/54159.html\

This webpage is part of a larger website, TeacherVision, where there are teaching
resources for many topics. For multiplication specifically, there are a wide range of resources
including printables for K-12, quizzes, lesson plans, holiday and seasonal resources, and
additional resources connecting multiplication to other curricular areas. I like the variety of
resources offered through this webpage. Primarily, I like the unique resources offered to make
cross-curricular connections with science, physical education, art, and music, teaching children
not only multiplication facts, but also other topics at the same time. However, it appears the
resources are only accessible if you pay a $39.95/year membership after receiving a free 7-day
trial. I think the resources offered on this website are well worth this membership due to the large
quantity of materials available.
Multiplication and Math Games. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2009, from

www.littlewoodscasino.com: http://www.littlewoodscasino.com/education-

resources/multiplication-and-math.htm

This webpage simply provides links to numerous other sites with multiplication resources
for students, both young and old. The variety of resources will help students learn basic math
skills through multiple strategies as well as helping students realize that learning math can be
fun. There are different websites presenting tips and tricks, various multiplication tables,
interactive games, and lesson plans. My favorite game offered through this webpage is
Mathionarie. I like the direct connection made to a popular TV show that some students may
watch at home with their family, thus making math more fun and encouraging students to
continue practicing their multiplication facts at home as well. Overall, I like this website for the
large variety of resources available to students.
Pierce, R. (2007, January 19). Multiplication Tips and Tricks. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from

Math Is Fun: http://www.mathsisfun.com/multiplication-tips-tricks.html

This webpage is part of a larger website, Math Is Fun, where there are teaching resources
for a variety of math topics such as algebra, geometry, measuring data, etc. For multiplication, in
particular, the webpage provides specific tips and tricks that teachers can use with students in
order to help them remember their times tables. I like how the website points out that every entry
in a times table has a twin, meaning students really only need to remember half of the table.
While these strategies are good ideas, they do not incorporate accommodations for multi-sensory
learners. It presents simple tricks to use in memorizing the facts in addition to basic
multiplication tables, tables tests, and worksheets. I like the tests and worksheets offered, yet
they do not have any creativity behind them, making learning boring for the students. Overall, I
think the tips and tricks are useful from this website, but the tests and worksheets need some
changes to make them more engaging.
Primary Games Ltd. (2000). Teaching Tables. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from

http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/

This website specifically provides interactive activities and worksheets for teaching times
tables to students. Each activity is available to both home users and to schools. While it appears
there is a price for the software when purchased by a school, it would be worth it for there are a
large variety of activities available. Additionally, each activity tailors to individual interests
varying from monkeys to painting. This makes the activities engaging for all students. I
especially like the worksheets that are available; they are not the typical worksheets with
straightforward multiplication problems. They are presented in different ways to better engage
the students in the learning process. Overall, I like this website. It offers a large variety of
activities and worksheets for students of different grade and comprehension levels, reaching out
to all students.
Russell, D. (2009). Multiplication Resources. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from About.com:

http://math.about.com/od/worksheets/a/chart.htm

This webpage is part of a larger website, About.com, where there are teaching resources
for many topics. For multiplication, the webpage includes a variety of resources, ranging from
multiplication charts to tricks to worksheets. While it provides many resources similar to other
websites, this webpage also offers activities that better engage the students in learning. For
example, I like the multiplication magic squares. These would be a better way of simply testing
the students rather than straightforward multiplication presented dully on a worksheet.
Additionally, the webpage gives suggestions for PowerPoint quizzes, making math fun in the
classroom. The PowerPoint colorfully presents multiplication facts rather than on another
worksheet. The PowerPoint's are completely free to download as well. Lastly, this webpage
provides links to a large number of other websites containing multiplication resources; if
something is not found on this website, students can try finding it on the others provided.
Overall, I like this webpage due to its more engaging approach to teaching multiplication.
Slim Goodbody Corp. (2008). Multiplication Teacher Resources. Retrieved October 28, 2009,

from Slim Goodbody:

http://www.slimgoodbody.com/teacher_resources/mathematics/multiplication/

This webpage is part of a larger website, Slim Goodbody, where there are teaching
resources for many topics, primarily unique topics including health and life skills in addition to
mathematics. For multiplication, more specifically, the webpage offers a small number of both
worksheets and interactive games. The worksheets are Halloween themed for the current season,
while the games each vary in theme, giving children options on how they would like to practice
their multiplication facts. Additionally, I like how many of the games are not against a timer,
taking away the pressure to relay the facts. It gives the students a chance to show what they
know on their own time. Overall, I like this website; its activities are quite engaging, teaching
children to enjoy multiplication more. However, there are only a small number of activities and
worksheets available, limiting the number of times students could use this website.
The Place For Educational Games! (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2009, from Arcademic Skill

Builders: http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/

This webpage is part of a larger website, Arcademic Skill Builders, where there are
teaching resources for primarily language arts and math. For multiplication, more specifically,
the webpage has a small number of both single-player and multi-player games to practice and
review facts. The multi-player games give students the option of competing against either their
peers or the computer, making it more competitive than simply competing against the time.
There are also success stories on the webpage, describing the effectiveness of these games in
particular classrooms. Mr. Sprankle says, of his classroom in Wells, ME, “Aligning the joy of
gaming with practicing math facts clearly helps transform the experience and invites students to
learn in an environment they are not only comfortable with, but would seek out given the
choice.” Overall, I think the website’s games would effectively test students’ multiplication
knowledge. However, there are only a few games offered, meaning they may not be as
challenging to students after awhile. Additionally, some students may not be able to handle the
competitive pressure present when competing against either an opponent or the time.