Math Learning Steps

Several strategies

These are grouped here because they can be done with the idea of using one more or one less, which is described in a moment. However, several of these can be done in other ways. They can all be done with skip counting, if your child prefers that approach. Multiplying by 4 is the double of multiplying by 2. Multiplying by 6 is the double of multiplying by 3. Multiplying by 11 is quite simple and barely needs any practice.

Multiplying by 9 has a special rule, that some children enjoy. Use 6 times 9 as an example. For the answer, put one less than the number in the tens place (which is 5), and subtract the tens place from 9 to get the ones place (which is 4). So 6 times 9 is 54. As you’ll see, this is no different than subtracting 6 from 6 times 10, but somehow it feels like more fun.

One more and one less

Use the idea of one more or one less to learn these based on other numbers you now know how to multiply by. The numbers 3, 6, and 11 are one more than numbers you already know. For example, 6 times 7 is one more 7 than 5 times 7. So 6 times 7 is 7 + 35, which is 42.

The numbers 4 and 9 are one less than numbers you already know. For example, 4 times 7 is one less 7 than 5 times 7. So 4 times 7 is 35 – 7, which is 28.