CENTERVILLE ISD

What is Multiplication Madness? 

Multiplication Madness is an incentive program I use to motivate students to learn their facts.  Each week we will take a timed quiz over a set of facts, beginning with 2's.  Once students pass a quiz with a 90% or better, they move on to the next.  After the student has mastered their 12's, they will be required to pass a mixed facts quiz.  We will have a Multiplication Madness party the week before Christmas break for all the students who have mastered their facts.  I would love to see all students at the party, so please encourage your child to practice if they don't already know their facts. 

Why should students memorize their facts anyway???

There has been lots of controversy in the mathematics world over the last several years as to whether or not rote memorization of math facts is beneficial.  It is possible to be successful without it, however it is much more difficult.  Multiplication is in almost everything we do, from problems involving multiplication and division to comparing fractions and converting units of measure.  Let's say we have a problem requiring students to find a common denominator of two fractions.  This can be done without automaticity of multiplication facts, however it is much more time consuming and difficult.  If students know the majority of their multiplication facts, they can move through problems more easily, and don't get frustrated as quickly.