In this blog, expert educator Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready provides insights on how educators can introduce the concept of multiplication to young children - in a way they can easily comprehend.
Multiplication is one of the four fundamental blocks of mathematics; an important concept that some children find challenging. However, with the right, playful, age-appropriate approach, educators can make multiplication seem enjoyable as well as understandable.
Why Start Early?
The purpose of introducing multiplication to children at an early age is that this gives them a tool to develop problem-solving skills and think critically. This also helps them build a strong foundation for more complex mathematics in future. All this depends on how the concept is introduced. With a playful touch (by means of games or visuals), young learners can embrace the concept of multiplication effectively.
The Right Approach by Kinder Ready Tutoring
Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready offers a unique approach when it comes to introducing this concept to young children. As an experienced educator, Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley firmly believes that first and foremost, the environment of the classroom should be supportive and joyful. Math is a tool we use everyday in our real life. It should be introduced to the children in the same way - as a tool not just an abstract concept.
Kinder Ready Tutoring incorporates this framework. Educators can use storytelling as a way to introduce this concept. For example, a farmer has 4 baskets and he puts 3 apples in each - this makes the total apples in basket 12 - an easily comprehensible, visual storytelling approach.
In this way, Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley believes, children can link multiplication to real life.
Key Strategies for Success
Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready has penned down some strategies that educators can adopt when teaching the concept of multiplication:
- Use Real Objects: Real-life objects like small toy cars, soft toys, colour pencils can be used to help the children visually. Ask them to group 3 cars each in 5 groups - then count them. This results in the understanding that 3x5 = 15..
- Skip Counting: This approach teaches the kids to skip count (count by twos, fives, tens). This form has a rigid base for multiplication, as per Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley. Teachers can use songs or rhymes about skip counting for this purpose..
- Draw Arrays: Teachers can ask the children to make an array of dots (like 3 rows with 2 dots in each row). This also helps the children visualize the concept of multiplication.
- Games and Movement: Movement based learning refers to physical activities and games that involve grouping or dice and incorporate the concept of multiplication. Studies have shown that this technique helps in retention of information.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Last but not the least, it is important for you to realise that your students may not get the entire concept of multiplication in a day. Learning is a continuous process and it is important to celebrate progress. Whether it is a successful memorisation of a 2-times table or creative storytelling that includes multiplication, positive reinforcement leads to growth and success.
Importance of Multiplication
According to Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley, multiplication is not just about memorizing the times tables. It develops reasoning and critical thinking skills in children - helping them see the World in an organized and structured way. From something as simple as dividing snacks between friends to as complicated as determining the total students sitting in classes, multiplication is everywhere. This is why it is important to ignite that spark of curiosity in young children.
Conclusion
Admittedly, teaching multiplication to young children can be a daunting task. But when combined with creativity, fun and patience, with guidance from expert educators like Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready, educators can build a strong foundation of multiplication in children. Use stories, music or objects - make learning fun.