Multiplication Practice

Quickie Strategy--

Having trouble helping your kids learn those blasted multiplication tables?  Work them into a game.  Pick a game with a long trail [like Parcheesi, Sorry, etc.]. Announce that this time when you roll the dice you won't move the total of the two dice, but the product of the two dice. 

So what would have been a move of 6 can turn into a move of 5 [1x5], 8 [2x4], or even 9 [3x3]. A roll that might have been 12 [6+6] becomes a whopping 36 [6x6]. becomes While it will slow down the turns a bit while the child figures the math, they will move around the board faster too.  For beginners you can allow a multiplication table, or calculator, or making the move in sets [2x4 means moving 4 twice to discover the total move is 8]. If you have only a bit of time, choose any trail game and just see who is first to get one playing piece all the way around the board and back to the start. 

Skip all the other rules and sidetracks and just make it a race once or twice around the board.  The range of random dice rolls that cam mean moving anywhere from 1 space [1x1] to 36 [6x6] will keep it moving and exciting and anyone's game.  It's not a cure, but it is a way to sneak in some extra practice in a fun, enjoyable way.