My grade 3 mathematicians have a few new strategies and skills in their tool kit… they are learning all about multiplication!  This year, we look critically about what multiplication actually means and different strategies to represent it in order to solve and create story problems up to 5 x 5.

I absolutely LOVE teaching this unit because it’s a brand-new concept for students in their grade 3 year.  It has been my experience that they feel so empowered and excited when we learn how to multiply numbers!  We started with looking at equal groups, which is what multiplying really means, repeated addition, arrays, and related multiplication sentences.

Grade 3′s, which strategies do you like to use when you’re multiplying?  Can you tell me about the x 1 rule?  How about the x 0 rule?

Happy Multiplying!  I look forward to the next half of this unit, as we move into division next week.

~Mrs. Cameron