Do you recall those tedious afternoons at the dining table, mechanically flipping through flashcards, all the while longing for the freedom of outdoor play? I certainly do, and the experience was less than enjoyable. For me, mastering multiplication tables felt like scaling Mount Everest during my elementary years. Therefore, when my 8-year-old son, Ethan, came home one day confidently reciting his multiplication facts without any flashcard drill, I was both astonished and a touch envious.
How did he achieve this? To my surprise, he had not only grasped his multiplication tables from 1 to 12 but had thoroughly enjoyed the process. A pang of jealousy stirred within me as I realized I wouldn’t have to endure the same struggles to help him learn. I eagerly inquired about his method, and much like any child, he was eager to share. His enthusiastic teacher had introduced skip-counting through familiar nursery rhymes, transforming what could have been a tedious memorization task into an engaging and enjoyable activity.
Over the following months, I witnessed Ethan diligently working on his math assignments, pausing to hum a familiar tune while using his fingers to keep track of his calculations. He never faltered in recalling his facts, and his speed prompted me to practice to keep pace with my third grader.
By the time my older daughter, Lily, was in third grade, I was fully convinced of this approach’s effectiveness. We sang these catchy tunes while washing dishes, belted them out on our way to gymnastics, and enjoyed them during homework sessions. Even my 5-year-old, Zoe, picked up most of the songs, and surprisingly, my 3-year-old, Max, could recite some of the numbers to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Is this a bit unusual? Perhaps, but I embrace it.
Naturally, I shared this insightful math technique with friends and family, explaining which melodies aligned with specific multiplication facts. However, many struggled to align the numbers with the tunes without auditory guidance. In response, I took the initiative to create a series of YouTube videos featuring Ethan singing these songs, complete with simple animations.
Our goal was to make these resources available to as many families as possible, aiming to spare trees from becoming flashcards, reduce homework-related tensions, and ultimately contribute to a more harmonious learning environment. Here are our seven “Skip Counting” videos:
- Skip Counting By 3s: “Where is Thumbkin”
- Skip Counting by 4s: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
- Skip Counting by 6s: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”
- Skip Counting by 7s: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
- Skip Counting by 8s: “This Old Man”
- Skip Counting by 9s: “Ten Little Indians”
- Skip Counting by 12s: “Jingle Bells”
This method not only fosters a love for math but also creates a joyful bonding experience for families. For those interested in exploring options for starting a family, this blog post provides valuable insights. Additionally, Make A Mom offers authoritative resources on home insemination kits. Furthermore, Johns Hopkins Medicine is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the innovative method of using songs to teach multiplication tables not only simplifies learning but also enhances family bonding, making math a fun and engaging subject for children.