Skill Sheets for the Sixes
See the GAME link and 2 WORKSHEET links below
Skip counting is great for those that struggle with their multiplication tables. Skip counting is also a mighty way to prepare a first or second grader for multiplication while they are still keeping their mind on addition. Being able to say their 6's is just as important as learning to say their 2's or 10's.
6,12,18,24,30,36,42,48,54,60,66 and 72.
If your child struggles with learning their multiplication facts then try this activity. The activity helps them to learn their sixes. Many children need to focus on just one set of facts at a time. Learning to say or write just the "answer" in "order" will also help eliminate a lot of their frustration. They need to learn their facts in what I like to call "families". I like to begin with the family of sixes, but you can do others.
For young kids, second semester first graders or second graders, learning to say or write their sixes will help prepare them to learn their multiplication facts in third grade. In third grade they will be able to learn the multiplication facts more easily because they have already learned the answers.
In third grade they must just learn the matching factors. If the answer is 18 then they already know it was one of their sixes. They just have to learn which one. The THIRD one. Remember they have learned to say them in order, starting at 6 and ending with 72. Thus the 3rd six is 18. So now they learn to say 3 times 6 equals 18.
Learning the multiplication facts in "ordered families" will give the child a better understanding that multiplication is "repeated adding" and that "reducing fractions" is just knowing to which family the given numbers belong.
Some like to say them: 6,12,18,24,30,36, etc. while others like to write them. And of course, there are those that prefer neither; so have these students write the sixes on a specific sheet of paper. Really, I require all my students to complete this worksheet. I say specific because we will use it several times over 2 or 3 days, maybe 5 days. It is quick and painless, since they are only writing the answers in order. They should write them 5 times across the page, making 2 columns for each set. Example
6 42
12 48
18 54
24 60
30 66
36 72
Now repeat these 4 more times across the page.
You can initial it and date it to the right of their work. The next day or a little later in the same day let them write them again underneath the first 5 sets. One regular sheet of paper should allow 5 or 6 rows of these sets. You should initial and date each row for them.
By allowing them to use the same paper over and over they can look back and see their prior work;
and this is fine. They will learn them more quickly and will SEE these orderly sets as "Their Sixes". Completely filling a sheet of paper with the sixes can be done in a few days and they will be proud of themselves. It is, of course, very important that you see some gain in their ability to recognize their sixes.
If writing is not helping enough then remember to also have the child "say" the set of sixes ("answers" only). This is important for children that are auditory learners. When they are successfull with one column (6 to 36) then try the second column. Learning 1 column at a time will help them remember or learn 6 times 7 = 42 because it is at the top of the second column. You may need to point that out to some kids, but others will notice themselves!! Some may enjoy the challenge of saying them backwards. But if they cannot or do not want to do that do not push it.
Try your sixes here-several games to play.****
**** The above games will open in a new window. Just click the X to close it and you will be back at mathinabox.
My Skip Counting Worksheet for the Sixes. (It is similar to the exercise above. Please be sure you read the paragraghs above so that you know how to use this worksheet.) You may print it for your OWN child only.
Let me know if this helps your child. Email me from here.
An IMPORTANT comment on reducing
fractions (for older students):
When asked to reduce 12/30, a child that knows skip counting will realize these are from the sixes and voila they automatically know "what number divides evenly into 12 and 30?". Do you realize how difficult that question sounds to a child? Now, all you must say is "In which skip counting family are 12 and 30?" or "In which skip counting family do you remember saying 12 and also 30?"
6!!!
Reducing fractions that are all sixes is another worksheet that I have created. For an older student that is dragging behind in their math ability, this sheet helps them learn their multiplication facts as they reduce fractions or perhaps I should say that in reverse order. Most do not even realize they are really working on 2 concepts that they do not know well. One will think: "Oh this is easy; it's just my sixes". While another will think: "I can really reduce fractions fast now; this is easy".
Worksheet for the Sixes. Please note the point is to use the Sixes for reducing fractions. Unless the student knows (well) about reducing fractions to their "lowest terms" then do not require that yet. You may print it for your OWN child only.
Pick a family of numbers.
Be an expert with that family then move to another!!
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copyright 2005 Susan O. Johnsey
State Certified teacher
Master of Science degree in Mathematics