ABSTRACT
Use of concrete materials, pictures, diagrams, and discussion increases students' familiarity with the process of multiplication and assists in their observation of regularities and patterns. In a small-guided math group, the teacher might give the students work mats and tell them stories and they have to solve the problems using the manipulatives. There has been a great deal of research on the effectiveness of games and various activities to teach and learn multiplication. There is a 5-component framework for individual fact practice. Teaching strategies through games and hands-on activities that build conceptual and procedural understanding are important. This 5-component framework allows the students to practice at the concrete, pictorial and abstract levels. Self-graphing can be a very motivating activity that marks student progress. Math Workstations students are engaging in independent, purposeful practice. Students should have the opportunity to work on achieving fluency with multiplication in small groups, individual practice times, and math workstations.
