Math Flash Cards That Work!
So your child has finally started multiplication this year? Chances are, he or she is in third or perhaps second grade.
Recently a tutoring client of mine informed me that her new third grader would have to learn the multiplication facts from zero to nine before mid-year. As I was discussing a plan of action to learn them, I wanted her to be aware of how powerful a well-planned strategy can be.
Most teachers will assess that the students know each group of facts by giving them multiplication quizzes. There are different ways that we, as parents, help our child to learn. We know that children learn differently. With that said, you may need to adjust where you fall on this spectrum of being prepared.
For example, there are some children who are very mathematically inclined (from birth, it would seem) and won’t require much studying of the multiplication facts. This, however, is the minority. Most children will benefit from having a plan in place having short daily practice for a while.
Multiplication Flash Cards?
A well meaning parent who truly believes they are planning ahead may purchase a set of multiplication fact cards. There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with fact cards, but they are sold as all facts mixed together. So, if your child is first learning the 2s facts early on, you would need to separate those facts from the stack.
What if you don’t separate them? For some, it doesn’t even cross their mind to do so.
Studying an entire stack of facts is completely overwhelming to the child beginning multiplication who hardly knows any.
Materials You Will Need:
index cards, scissors, markers, pencil, hole punch, metal ring, paper, printer
Let’s go with the scenario that your child’s teacher has said they are learning the 2s multiplication facts:
| 2x1 | 2x2 | 2x3 | 2x4 | 2x5 | 2x6 |
| 2x7 | 2x8 | 2x9 | 2x10 | 2x11 | 2x12 |
Making the Flash Cards
Cut index cards in half. (This will make miniature cards, which the children usually like.)
Hole punch the top left side of the card. (The cards can loop on a metal ring, easy to clip inside a binder.)
Write the fact on the front of the card in marker (without the answer)
On the back, in the top corner opposite from the hole, write the answer lightly in pencil.
Using the Flash Cards
You will need to show your child how to shuffle and mix the order of the cards each time.
You will need to show your child how to take just a few at a time before mixing all 12 together. (I recommend learning 3-4 cards at a time and gradually mixing in 1-2 new ones as you review the ones you started with.)
You will need to show your child how to self-check with the cards by turning them over to see the correct answer.
Once you feel the cards have been learned, an extra step that is extremely beneficial is to show the child that multiplication is commutative [the two numbers (factors) can be switched, giving the same answer].
For example, 2 x 9 =18 is the same as 9 x 2 = 18.
“You already know a 9s fact!” you may say to encourage your child.
Feel free to make cards with the factors switched around to add to your stack. We made ours written in a different marker color and started to mix them in.
For the 2s, they would be:
| 1x2 | 2x2 | 3x2 | 4x2 | 5x2 | 6x2 |
| 7x2 | 8x2 | 9x2 | 10x2 | 11x2 | 12x2 |
Do I HAVE to use flash cards?
So far, I’ve only mentioned one tool to use in learning multiplication: flash cards. They are, indeed, very “old school!” Is that a bad thing? Of course not! I meet parents frequently who have had to limit or take away their child’s screen time, which makes using math apps difficult.
Are flash cards the only way to study? Of course not! But, they DO offer an affordable and quick way to review for busy parents on a budget. They can easily be made by a child who is third grade age or older, as an added bonus. For extra flare, use colored index cards and markers! Now that you have at least one effective and affordable way to learn…
Let’s talk STRATEGY!
So, you’ve just been told that your child must learn the multiplication facts up to the 9s by midyear. Where do you go from there?
Touch base with the teacher EARLY ON and ask her the following:
How will my child be tested to see if he/she knows the facts? (usually it’s written)
How frequently are the fact tests given? (You can have the opportunity to lay out a plan, and get ahead if needed)
How many questions are on the test?
Is the test timed?
Will there be a retake opportunity?
If the child does not master these facts, will you move on to the next set?
Are the facts written vertically or horizontally on the test?
Are review facts mixed in from previous lists with the new ones?
Teachers do not always volunteer the answers to these questions. Some teachers may not even have their tests planned out. Asking these questions early as a concerned parent can encourage even a teacher to get a better plan in place. You will be SO glad you know what your child is facing so you can give that confidence at home and be proud of what you accomplished in the end!
When you practice and train at home, try to make or print out a worksheet as if it’s a pretend test. If the teacher says her test has 25 questions, make yours have that many as well. ( See www.math-drills.com for many different practice pages that you can choose and modify to mimic the teacher’s multiplication quizzes).
If the teacher says it’s timed, practice being timed at home. Many children have anxiety around timed tests. Training little-by-little at home can ease most of that. If done properly, flash cards will show progress even in 5-10 focused minutes a day, if they are practiced DAILY!
I'd love to hear your comments about how your family tackled multiplication! Please share your stories and questions!