MULTIPLICATION HANDS- a useful strategy for recalling multiplication facts for 6x, 7x, 8x and 9x

When a student is finding it difficult to recall the multiplication facts quickly and with confidence try introducing this strategy to them.  With practice, they will be able to answer those  trickier 6x, 7x 8x and 9x questions with speed.

In the first example, the student is asked to answer 7 x 8.  

• The student puts both hands together, facing up.  The little fingers are 10, the ring finger is 9, middle fingers are 8, index fingers are 7 and the thumbs are 6.  
• On the left hand, fingers 6 and 7 are hold down; on the right hand fingers 8,7 and 6 are hold down. ( As 7 x 8 and 8 x 7 have the same answer the hands can be reversed).  I have used stickers instead of holding the fingers down as an alternative. 
• Next the student counts the fingers hold down by multiples of 10 - in this example 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.  The student records 50.
•  Then the student multiplies the number of fingers on the left hand that are not being hold down by the number of fingers on the right hand that are not being hold down.  In this case: 3 x 2 = 6.  The student records the number 6.
• Finally the student adds the two numbers together: 50 + 6 = 56

Here is another example:

I briefly mentioned that I have used stickers on fingers instead of holding them down, especially if the student finds that difficult.  I have also got the students to draw around their hands, cut them out and stick them onto card.  (Make sure that the fingers are not stuck down so that they can be folded).  In fact, I have found it useful to keep a pair of my "paper hands" close by when I am teaching.