Review: Five times Five is not Ten

Posted by Karin | 0 comments

Five Times Five is not Ten: Make multiplication easy by Susan Greenwald (Longevity Publishing;2008) is a practical supplementary workbook on the multiplication facts that includes easy-to-learn strategies on how to teach the math facts to students who are having difficulty. The workbook is designed for any age student who needs to memorize, learn, remember, master or become more fluent in multiplication facts.

This reproducible book includes 148 pages of practice pages including: introduction, practice, cumulative practice and review. The lessons can easily be individualized for different learning abilities. Parents should not feel a need to complete all of the pages with their children. Some children may need to while others need only complete some to demonstrate mastery. Samplings of addition and/or subtraction facts are mixed in for essential review. Parents who may be nervous about teaching math facts will enjoy the “Guide to Introducing the Facts” (page ix) which is a scripted page on how to introduce the math facts to students and “How to use this book” (page v) which offers helpful tips on using the workbook. Parents are encouraged to use manipulatives ( cubes, buttons, paper clips, chips, etc) when introducing math facts for the first time.

How to use the workbook in teaching math facts:

• Use a set of multiplication flash cards to test the child to determine the baseline of which facts are known. Known facts are those that are answered quickly and correctly. Children should not count to know the answer. That is not mastery.

• Record known facts on the included Math facts baseline recorder (page 153). Transfer the information to the Record-Keeping checklist (page 154). After marking the known facts, the unmarked spaces will allow you to easily see which facts need to be learned. The workbook is designed to be used sequentially, so start with the first workbook page number where there are unmarked spaces.

• Use manipulatives when introducing math facts. If you need a script, use the Guide to Introducing the facts (page ix). Children need to demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of multiplication before we ask them to memorize the facts. As new facts are introduced, mark them in the Recod-keeping checklist. Seeing those filled pages will give students a feeling of accomplishment, so be sure to show them their progress or allow them to mark off completed squares.

• Students should practice at least three times per week; daily is best. The workbook includes 33 sets of introductions and was designed to introduce a new set of facts on each lesson day, but you should adjust to your child’s comfort level and ability.

• Encourage the use of the strategy name when reviewing math facts. It is important that students associate a fact with a strategy rather than count out an answer on their fingers. When stuck on a math fact, you should remind them of the strategy and state the strategy name to recall the answer.

• Celebrate when all the math facts are mastered!

The key to this workbook is the strategies suggested for each math fact. Parents should view the 14 sample pages for further explanation and a better visual explanation. They are impressive! I wish I had been taught my multiplication facts in this manner when I was a child, I might have actually enjoyed math. Susan Greenwald’s book is compatible with any math curriculum you may be using but should not be used until your child has successfully mastered addition and subtraction.

This workbook should be on every homeschool parents shelf. This is a purchase you will not regret.
For more information, visit Susan Greenwald’s blog.
Retails for $24.95 (new)

Karin Katherine is a proud stay-at-home mother of four who feels blessed to be the mother of 5 year old fraternal twin boys and two daughters, ages three and 10 months. You are invited to follow her homeschooling adventures at www.PassportAcademy.com and her adventures as a mother, wife, homemaker, decorator and organizer at www.MommyMattersBlog.com