multiplication and fractions

Right now, I juggle the balance between meeting IEP goals and helping all students learn.  I have students who require a calculator for doing math but if you've ever tried to do fractions on a calculator, it can be extremely frustrating.

The problem with most calculators and fractions is you have to find the button for fractions and it usually takes two to three repeated motions.  Other calculators do not have a choice of providing fractional answers in fraction form, only in decimals which is not great when you try to explain that 1/3 and .33 are not exactly the same.

I learned to work with fractions growing up but I also knew my multiplication tables.  Unfortunately too many students, even the best ones, struggle with this.  Many of them do not have a solid grasp of multiplication.  Unfortunately there are still places in this world where fractions are used such as if you purchase lumber, fabric, cook, discounts, etc.

One of the best ways I've found to have students practice their multiplication facts is to let them play games designed to let them learn their facts while having fun. Today's apps can really help with this.  I'm not talking about the ones designed to do a electronic drill and kill but the ones that give the students challenges, rewards, everything found in their beloved video games.

The other thing is that the games have to be designed for older students, not first or second graders.  I've explored a few free multiplication apps and reviewed them here for you.  A couple are games while others are flash cards.

1. Times Table Game offers both a free version and a paid version.  The free version offers a chance to learn your factors from 1 x 1 to 6 x10 but anything higher, you need to actually purchase the paid version to get everything.  The format is you have a problem with four choices.  You choose the answer.  If it is correct you get points and if not, it flashes the problem with your chosen answer and a question mark all in red.  There are two formats, one is timed and the other is not.

2. Multiplication Table Game has three modes, learn, practice, and test.  Learn is exactly what it says.  It shows the table for the number you want and you learn from times one to times 10.  Practice has you choose the one you want to practice such as 8's.  A problem appears on the blackboard with 8 choices at the bottom for answers.  If you incorrectly identify the answer, it has a red x and it has you choose another answer.

The test gives you 20 problems to complete and if you miss a problem, you get automatic feedback.  There is even a 2 player option where they share a tablet and players are given the same problem to play against each other.  Each works on answering the problems but it records the first person with the correct answer and it keeps giving problems as they are answered.  When one person hits 15 correct answers, they are proclaimed the winner. 

3. Multiplication or Division Flash card game is another one which you have to buy the app to receive full access to everything. Although it is geared for second and third grade,  I believe it would work in high school because of the way it is designed.  When you click on multiplication you have a choice of practice, quiz games, or match games. 

Practice only allows you to practice 1 to 4 .  You have flash cards which can be used in the normal way regular flash cards are used.   You are given a choice of two quiz games.  One is the flash card quiz which has you selecting the correct answer out of three or the speed challenge where answer as many as you can in a certain time.

The last is the match game which gives the player one of two choices.  The first is to match the equation to the answer while the other has players match the equation with another equation that has the same answer.  This is the part of the app I love because it helps students connect equations which have the same answer rather than looking at them separately.

Tomorrow I'm going to review a few more including two which help students learn to do multidigit multiplication.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.