Martha's Math world podcast Episode 1

In this episode of Martha's Math World, the focus is on the struggles students face with multiplication in 4th grade math. The host discusses the importance of memorizing multiplication facts and how it is necessary to complete various standards in 4th grade. It is suggested that introducing multiplication earlier, in 2nd grade, would help eliminate the battle of memorization. The host also shares solutions, such as using repetition and creating songs and rhymes to make learning multiplication facts fun. Online games and resources are recommended for practicing at home. The goal is to ensure students have confidence and proficiency in multiplication, making math class easier and enjoyable. Hello, and I am Martha Monday, and welcome to Martha's Math World, Episode 1. On this episode, we will be discussing what is one of the struggles in 4th grade math, multiplication, multiplication facts, and having students memorize them to be able to work through all standards in the 4th grade. On this episode, we will be discussing the memorization of multiplication facts, what skills are expected in the 4th grade that use multiplication throughout the school year, and how we can practice to be proficient. Multiplication is the main tool for many forms of math throughout a scholar's education. In the Missouri Learning Standards, 3rd grade scholars are introduced to basic multiplication facts. In 4th grade, we begin to introduce a variety of standards where multiplication is needed to complete a set of problems. As students continue to grow and move forward in their career, they still are allowed to move up into the next grade level without memorizing their math facts. If students don't know their math facts, they will struggle and become discouraged, making math a miserable experience, and we don't want that. I believe that it would be ideal to introduce multiplication in the 2nd grade on how addition and multiplication correlate between each other. I feel by introducing multiplication earlier than 3rd grade would eliminate the battle in memorization in the 4th grade. We would be able to dive right in and complete all 4th grade standards prior to the end of the year state testing with ease, leaving ample time to prepare for state testing. The ability to memorize and understand multiplication is so important. Having the confidence with their facts will make 4th grade math class so much easier to tackle. A majority of 4th grade math incorporates multiplication to successfully complete each standard. The first few months of school each year, I am having to work on multiplication facts, explaining them, helping them memorize, and working with students who are just continuing to struggle. In the 4th grade, we have 12 standards that use multiplication to complete each standard successfully. Multiplying 10s and 100s, then also dividing 10s and 100s, multiplying 4-digit by 1-digit, multiplying 2 by 2-digit, division, if they don't know the multiplication, they won't get that division problem correct, equivalent fractions, we use the butterfly method to multiply the numerators and denominators, decomposing fractions, multiplying fractions by a whole number, turning a fraction into a whole number, finding multiples, prime and composite numbers, you have to have multiplication for that one, number patterns, that one you use addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and finding area, area equals length times width. Now, what are some solutions? I found that when teaching multiplication, facts with repetition is very important. I've created a rhyme and a rhythm song that's fun during class. Students love to be able to sing and make beat when working on math. If we're trying to memorize a multiplication fact, I'll start with 6 times 4. 6 times 4 is 24. I will have a student shout that out, and then other students will beat on the desk, shout it out, and all together we are singing 6 times 4 is 24. We write out math facts, and as we are writing them out, we'll write them 3 or 4 times out, and we will continue to sing that. If I ask for a division problem, I will ask them how they knew that particular division problem was solved, through multiplication, and we will then sing that multiplication fact out. For instance, area equals length times width. How do you use multiplication with that? There are several online games that we use in class to help students to be able to practice. I also send that information home with parents, so they're able to use that information at home. Some of those are Prodigy, Multiplication.com, Math Playground, and ABCYA. I have that on my Google Classroom, under free time folder, so when the students are able to, they're able to log in. These websites are games that help students build their skills in a fun way. Working at home and in school to ensure that our students are going to do all they can do to build their memorization of multiplication facts. Our students will move forward in his or her education with ease, and have a love for math. Let's all work together to make math fun. Thanks for listening!