While the 3rd grade standard MAFS.3.OA.3.7 states, “By the end of grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.”, this is, unfortunately, not always the case. There are often 4th grade students who are attempting to build an understanding of strategies for multi-digit multiplication while still lacking basic fact fluency. While fluency with basic facts is not essential for understanding strategies such as partial products, it sure helps.
MAFS.3.OA.3.7 also states that students should, “Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division…or the properties of operations.” That doesn’t exactly sound like the rote memorization of facts that we were all subjected to. So, what are those strategies they used in 3rd grade?
Below are several videos that explore a variety of strategies which support students as they build multiplication and division fluency.
This first video provides a brief explanation of the benefits of teaching students strategies versus wrote memorization of the multiplication table:
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The following brief videos go into more detail regarding some specific strategies, and may provide you with some insight into how to support those students who are still working towards fluency:
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