Math Mammoth Multiplication 1
Math Mammoth Multiplication 1 is a fairly self-explanatory worktext to learn the concept of multiplication and the multiplication tables. It has two parts: The first part concentrates on
the concept of multiplication, the order of operations, and word problems. The
second part deals with memorizing the times tables.
I have created a systematic approach to memorizing the times tables. In this
method, one table is studied at a time to mastery. The individual tables are NOT studied in the order of 2, 3, 4, etc. but instead, the “easy” tables of 2, 5, 10, and 11 are studied first. Also, in this system, we study the table of 4 right after the table of 2, and the table of 6 right after the table of 3, because the skip-counting patterns for those tables share some similarities. The lessons emphasize the fact that any particular multiplication fact is always in two different tables. This way, when the student gets to the hardest tables, the tables of 7, 8, and 12, there are only a few totally new facts to learn.
We always start the study of each table by memorizing the skip-counting pattern first. Then we work
on memorizing which fact is associated with which answer. This way the child not only knows what 8 × 7 equals, but also knows this fact “backwards” - that 56 is in the tables of 8 and 7. That knowledge will be an enormous help later, when learning division facts, prime factorization, and how to find the least common multiple and the greatest common factor of numbers.
In part 2, the book includes a 12x12 grid at the end of almost every lesson (see an example). In the grid, the boxes for those facts that have not been studied yet are shaded, and are not to be filled in. Little by little, the shaded areas become less and less, and the progress is very visible to the student, which is very encouraging.
I encourage you also to use games for motivation and for practice. I have included a list of online multiplication
games for that purpose. Of course, board and card games work well also. However,
games are not enough in themselves. The memorization also requires a mental
effort from the student: sitting down with the skip-counting list, then with the
facts, reading them, and then trying to remember them. The basic age-old
technique of covering the list and trying to remember it is still very
effective!
I do not want to discount the value of songs or mnemonic devices, but they
tend to isolate the facts in the child's mind as separate “odd trivia”. The system used in this book shows the patterns found in the multiplication tables in order to keep the facts in a structured context, and emphasizes learning the tables “backwards” in order to facilitate learning division.
If the student studies the multiplication tables well at one time, he does not need to come back to them in the fourth, fifth,
and sixth grade. One time will be enough, and he can move on to division and other topics.
The book Multiplication 1 is excellent for remedial teaching.
The PDF version of this book can be filled in on a computer, phone, or tablet, using the annotation tools found in many PDF apps. See more.
Videos
I have made a set of videos to match the part of the book dealing with the various tables. You can access them here: Free multiplication tables videos. These videos not only explain how you can do the "structured drill" for multiplication tables, but also do the drilling for you!
Online practice
You can practice multiplication tables online right here at mathmammoth.com site. You can choose the exact tables you'd like to practice, time or non-timed practice, and the number of questions. You can also practice filling in the 12x12 multiplication chart.
I also offer an interactive, online course for the multiplication tables, in collaboration with TinyTap.
See an example lesson from the course below: 😀
Another possibility is to use a tool by David Chandler from Math Without Borders called Learn 'Em Forwards and Backwards. It helps you practice and master the multiplication tables using the SAME order of learning the tables as in the book Math Mammoth Multiplication 1.
This tool also practices the tables both forwards and backwards at the same time — which is exactly the approach I've taken in my books and in my videos for the multiplication tables. It allows the students to master division facts "in disguise" at the same time. For example, students not only learn the answers to 2 × 6, 3 × 6, 4 × 6, 5 × 6, etc. but also practice the missing factor problems: ___ × 6 = 12, ___ × 6 = 30, ___ × 6 = 72, ___ × 6 = 42, etc.
Check out also these free multiplication games and activities at our site:
You might also be interested in the following books and resources:
Feedback
Also, I wanted to mention that we have been doing the Blue Series "Multiplication" as our only math for about the last two weeks. We did another ITBS practice test (math only) at the end of last week, and I was astonished at the improvement! It seems that even his computation speed on the addition and subtraction facts has improved; we did not work directly on this, so I can only assume it must have something to do with the Math Mammoth worksheets. It seems to me that he is now thinking in a more mathematical way, if that makes any sense. He was even able to do most of the division problems they included, despite the fact that he has only seen the concept a time or two so far in his Saxon math. Before, he would just look at division and skip over it without trying, but he seems to have the confidence to at least try it now.
Krista Willmorth
My child is a slow learner (low IQ) and struggled with multiplication. His teacher had given up on teaching it to him and just wanted him to memorize the flash cards but it wasn't connecting for him. Your method has made such and incredible difference! (There are not enough exclamation marks that can stress just how amazing your book has worked for him.) He now has confidence in his math ability and he really understands the concept. I'm looking forward to the success he will have using your division math book! Thank you so much!
Jessica Parks
Thank you so much for your products - I have only just started using the multiplication study and my son, who has been working on multiplication for almost a year, has finally "gotten it". We have been at it for a week, using your method of times table review and I am wonderfully pleased at how he has finally learned how to manage the times tables! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sincerely,
Brenda
From a homeschooling parent who has used Multiplication 1 with a third grader, age 7:
We love the books. My daughter developed a good conceptual understanding of the topics, as well as mastering the arithmetic facts.
Angela Bourassa
P.S. And many thanks for a really fabulous math curriculum that very much empowers my seven year old daughter, making her feel very independent. She's the only kids I've ever heard turn a math book page and say, "Yes!! WORD problems!" :-)
From a homeschooling parent who has used Multiplication 1 and Division 1 with a second grade daughter:
We are using it as the only curriculum to teach multiplication and division. I love the simplisity of the books. I also love that I see my child learn it with little difficulty. She was very apprehensive about learning multiplication due to the fact that her friends had told her how hard it was going to be. She started crying on day one. I promised her that I had overlooked the lessons and it would be a breeze but she was still upset until we came to the end of the lesson and she yelled out with a big smile on her face, "That's it, we're done! That was easy!"
Schlonda Dodd
The following is one of the winning entries to Math Mammoth 2008 Thanksgiving Contest.
I recently downloaded the Blue Multiplication 1 book. Our third grader has
used the SRA Math series called Explorations, but we had been unable to find
some of the materials we needed. I needed something quickly to work on, and
I decided to try focusing on one area, namely multiplication. Your math
book has been a great way to kick off the subject.
My son found your worksheets very easy to follow with directions
that made sense to him. This is a huge advantage in homeschooling as I have
3 kids to teach, all at different levels. We still worked together at
times, but he found that he could work independently as well. Explanations
are clear and concise. The problems kept him engaged, but did not get too
repetitive. I appreciated that some of the sections were difficult as it
gave me a chance to work through multi-step problems together. From a
teaching standpoint, I like that I can choose a subject to focus upon.
I also found the access to the materials very convenient. Rather than having
to go to a store, I could peruse the selection on line, and even look
at samples. Once I made my decision to buy, I got immediate gratification!
That is a huge bonus as we live in a very remote area and my access to
educational supplies is almost nonexistent.
I think that your gift is that you have a very clear approach that seems to strike a responsive chord
with most children. You have helped me to step back from the idea of MATH
as a huge beast we need to tame, and showed me that we can break it down
into bite sized pieces.
Sincerely,
Tricia Huebschman
I discovered the Math Mammoth books while looking for resources to assist
two students I tutored this summer. One was a rising third grader, the other
a rising sixth grader. Both students needed to work on learning
multiplication tables, so I purchased the Blue Multiplication 1 worktext.
With my third grade student, we worked through the entire text over the
summer. She had missed the introduction to multiplication during her second
grade year because of absences, and never really caught on to what was going
on in her math class after that. She came to me very frustrated with math,
but the illustrations and examples in the worktext really helped me explain
multiplication to her effectively. She entered third grade with most of her
multiplication facts not just memorized, but *understood.* Her mother has
commented on how easy math is for her this year!
The rising sixth grader had struggled in math, I think because she needs
a lot of repetition and one-to-one teaching to master any new skill, and the
math program we use in the lower grades introduces a skill, and provides has
just a few practice problems on that skill before moving on to the next
topic--it just wasn't enough concentrated practice for her. She felt she
was not "smart at math," but had chosen to seek out tutoring on her own over
the summer to get ready for middle school. She was extremely
self-motivated. We worked through most of the multiplication exercises over
the summer--condensing the work in the first section somewhat because the
concept of multiplication was very familiar to her--as well as the sample
pages on fractions during the summer. The fractions models simply made
fractions "click" for her--she got very good at visualizing fractions in her
head based on the modeling and using that visualization to compare
fractions.
I will definitely be using these books with my own children, and have
recommended them to several teachers, especially teachers working with
special needs students.
Rebecca Dickenson
November 30, 2008
From a tutor who has used Multiplication 1 with 7-12 year olds:
My granddaughter desperately wanted to learn multiplication tables. The memorization technique (rote counting) of just remember the numbers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 etc wasn't working. My nieces who attended public school had been struggling with learning the times tables as well. It was a nightmare that both the children and I wanted to avoid so we did them with much pulling out of hair and teeth.
Please describe how you have liked the ebooks.
These books are sensational, writing the numbers, doing the practice exercises and the skip counting number lines worked miracles. The frustration was gone. We were able to make up lots of games using the books and the children learned really fast.
Virleeta Johnson
From a homeschooling parent who has used Multiplication 1 with a 4th grader/9-year old:
I love the way the multiplication ebook has moved seamlessly from point to point. The teaching tips have been helpful! My son and I enjoy sitting down to do them.
My son has been a very reluctant math-learner. He always says "It's just too hard." He has commented several times that he enjoys completing the multiplication ebook and doesn't want to skip pages.
Hope Martin
From a parent who has used Multiplication 1 with a 23-year old:
My daugher is ADD and has been all of her life. She mentally dropped out of school in the third grade. Now that she is older, she wants to recapture what she missed out on. She is very excited to be learning and understanding her multiplication and realizes it's not as hard as she originally thought.
I like their simple but powerful concepts. Very understandable
Deborah Hendricks
From a homeschooling parent; used Multiplication 1 with a 2nd/3rd grader:
This workbook is awesome! He is learning his multiplication facts easily and very quickly. It works great as a curriculum by itself with no need to supplement with another math curriculum.
Lyn Warmka
From a Learning Resource Teacher in private school who has used Multiplication 1 with 4th grade/9 years old to replace classroom math due to student not functioning at grade level for math:
I love how the books finally teach the rationale behind multiplication and not just memorizing the facts! I believe the books are very good in their current form. The format and content is very logical and clearly presented.
Jan Schadt
From a homeschooling parent:
great - very well-thought out. The concepts are very clear, layout is nice. The student really understands the information - you can't just regurgitate some memorized facts - the knowledge is applied to the questions and excercises.
Amy Shirk
From a homeschooling parent:
I have to say that I am loving your e-book on multiplication. I have tried to teach my son multiplication for 3 years now and he is FINALLY getting it! I like how you show the different ways to solve the problems. It is finally making sense to him. I'll be purchasing the one on division soon. Thanks for making these e-books, they are wonderful.
Christina in GA
Blue Series - $165 (download)
Blue Series for grades 1-3 - $49 (download)
Blue Series for grades 4-5 - $47 (download)
Blue Series for grades 6-8 - $69 (download)
Light Blue Series, grades 1-8 - $225 (download)
Light Blue Series, grades 1-4 - $112.50 (download)
Light Blue Series, grades 5-8 - $112.50 (download)
All Inclusive Bundle - $275 (download)
"Everything" Bundle - $330 (download)
Learn more about the bundles!
*BONUS*: Buy any bundle listed above, and get the fully upgraded
Soft-Pak software for FREE (includes 4 math and 2 language arts programs, complete with on screen and printable options).
How and where to order
You can buy Math Mammoth books at:
- Here at MathMammoth.com website — simply use the "Add to cart" buttons you see on the product pages.
- Rainbow Resource carries printed copies for the Light Blue series books, plus several CDs (Light Blue and Blue series).
- Homeschool Buyers Club offers download versions of the Light Blue series, plus the Blue series bundle.
- Homeschool Planet sells the digital versions of the main curriculum and lesson plans to go with them.
- K5 Learning offers download versions of the Blue series.
- TPT sells the Light Blue Series downloads, plus topical units.
- Lulu sells printed copies for most of the Math Mammoth materials (various series).
By purchasing any of the books, permission IS granted for the teacher (or parent) to reproduce this material to be used with his/her students in a teaching situation; not for commercial resale. However, you are not permitted to share the material with another teacher.
In other words, you are permitted to make copies for the students/children you are teaching, but not for other teachers' usage.
Math Mammoth books are PDF files. I recommend you use
Adobe Reader to view them, including if you use a Mac. You can try other PDF viewers, but they may at times either omit or mess up some of the images.