Review of our Multiplication Division system
Stories are easy for children to remember. When you combine the stories with rhyming words and pictures, memorizing is a snap! I’m posting a review from one of our customers who successfully used our multiplication division products. Krystal Miller writes a family blog called Healthy, Happy, Thrifty Family.
Using Stories to Learn Multiplication & Division Facts
I’m a math teacher and homeschooling mom of a boy who is learning his multiplication facts. The Memory Joggers program is designed to teach children the times tables and division facts through story-telling, so we were so excited to start reading the stories!
When I was a kid, I remember a lot of rote learning for times tables. I used flash cards and took a bunch of timed tests in school. But, that doesn’t work for everyone. (And, it’s not much fun!) Some of my developmental college students still struggle with advanced math concepts because they haven’t mastered their multiplication table!
Memory Joggers Story Cards
My son easily learned his 2’s and 5’s, but he was really struggling to memorize the times tables for higher numbers. So, I was really excited to get started with the Memory Joggers Story Cards!
I’m happy to report that after using these for about two weeks, my son is already learning new facts. The program recommends introducing no more than two per day. We’ve been sticking to that policy and it is working well!
How it Works
Memory Joggers Story Cards work by associating each number with an item or character. They use those to tell a story that is more memorable than just trying to remember a number alone. So the number four is associated with doors, the number seven is associated with a boy named Kevin and so on.
My son loves stories and can remember lots of specific details when he hears a story. So, these work great for him! The division facts are built right in, and he’s learning those as we go along, too!
Here a sample card for 4 x 4. The story talks about two twin sisters who stand at their doors and argue about their Sweet 16 birthday.
The stories are printed on the backs of the cards, the picture can be seen while you’re telling the story. They also suggest having the student visualize the fact by tracing it in the air. You can also reinforce by having the students draw the picture.
About the Stories
Most of the stories in the Memory Joggers Story Cards are cute and fun, and some connect the answer to a similar sounding word. Here’s my son talking about what he remembers from his favorite stories:
Suggestions for use at Home
Whether you’re homeschooling or just using these for extra reinforcement, the Memory Joggers Story Cards are very flexible. I’ve asked my son to re-tell the story at a different time during the day to check his understanding. I sometimes leave questions open-ended (tell me a porcupine story) so he has the choice of which story to tell. These would even work great as a quick addition to your bedtime routine.
Suggestions for use in the Classroom
You can easily use the Memory Joggers Story Cards in a classroom setting. They are great for a morning or circle time activity. You could assess understanding by having each student create their own picture in a journal or on this response sheet I created. I’ve been saving ours to make a multiplication book.
