PME-NA

Developing Intuitive Multiplication Fact Strategies with Young Students

• In Event: Number Sense

Description

The learning of basic facts, or sums and products of numbers 0-10 and their related differences and quotients, has always been a high priority for elementary school teachers. Current standards documents (e.g., the Common Core State Standards) expect multiplication fact mastery by the end of third grade, a daunting task. In an attempt to help mitigate that challenge, this project studied the impact of using visual imagery in the form of “Quick Looks” with dots in equal grouping patterns to encourage second graders to develop informal multiplicative understandings and strategies. The intervention consisted of six lessons taught by the researchers in second grade classrooms. Comparison of pre- and post-interview results of 32 participating second grade students showed growth in all four aspects of procedural fluency (accuracy, efficiency, flexibility, and appropriate strategy use).

Authors

• Gina Kling, Hope College

• Megan Hayduk, Hope College