Beginning a Math Lesson- Using Review

 In the 3rd grade classroom I am currently student teaching in, the lead teacher takes the time to open the lesson everyday by reviewing the students multiplication facts. She has the students skip-count 2 numbers they have previously learned and should know and then 1 that they plan to use or learn that day. She skip counts out loud with the students slowly counting up to times 10 and then counts them down from times 10 to times 0. From observing its effectiveness, I think that this strategy is beneficial for both the students and the teachers. It gives the teachers the opportunity to see who is still struggling as well as allows the students to review their times tables facts. 

In addition to something like this, I wanted to research more ways to engage students in math before the lesson begins. This can also be known as the hook of the lesson to get the students excited. When I conducted my lesson plan with the students, I opened the lesson by having the students create and solve 5 multiplication equations by pulling numbers from a deck of cards (2-10). I think that this tactic went over well as the students were given the opportunity to work as a group to compete against other groups in order to review their multiplication facts. 

After doing some research, I found the link below that contained so many fun ways to assist in a fun and engaging way when it comes to teaching multiplication. 

https://www.weareteachers.com/22-fun-hands-on-ways-to-teach-multiplication/

Number 26 on the list provided in this link is something that would resonate most with my students. Most of them play or are familiar with soccer and I think that it would be a fun way to engage them in reviewing their multiplication facts. The concept of this activity would be to write numbers on the ball randomly from 1-10 more than once for some numbers. Then toss the ball around the room and ask the student to say aloud the 2 numbers closest to their thumbs. Then ask the students to multiply those numbers together. This can be done student by student or as a whole class.

This can be used for any lesson teaching any of the following standards:

3.OA.3, 3.OA.4, 3.OA.5, 3.OA.7, 3.OA.8, 3.OA.9