Multiplication is a foundational skill for all students, and therefore, it’s spiraled often throughout the year to keep students flexing that skill. After a while, reinforcing and practicing multiplication can get boring, especially if it’s always coming from the textbook or a worksheet. So, how can you keep multiplication engaging for your elementary students? The answer is simple: Multiplication choice board!
Multiplication Choice boards are charts or graphic organizers with various activities listed in each component of the chart. When using choice boards, students get to select which activity to work on next. I love being able to support my students creativity and one way to do this is by giving them a template of each of the choices.
Here are three ways you can use a multiplication choice board in your grade classroom.
Tip #1: Choice boards encourage students to step out of the box.
When you continue to use the same type of practice, whether it be task cards, worksheets, or the textbook, students can feel really great and comfortable in this one zone. When students are presented with a multiplication question or format that is outside of their normal practice, they might be confused or unable to transfer their knowledge.
With multiplication choice boards, students are always forced to step out of their comfort zone and practice multiplication in new ways. Each item on the choice board presents a question or problem in a unique way. This challenges students to apply their skills and knowledge in multiple ways and check that they are able to transfer the skills they have.
Tip #2: Use Multiplication Choice boards as an exemplary task.
An exemplary task is an example of students’ work that can provide the teacher with formative assessment data. As we talked about in the previous paragraph, choice boards give students various different problems. It shows the students have different ways to display their multiplication knowledge. You are able to see what types of multiplication questions your students are excelling at and what areas they are struggling in.
Tip #3: Choice boards contain a key to engagement and learning success.
The key to choice boards engagement strategy is in the name: choice! Student’s daily routines are very scripted for them. They have to come to school, eat at a particular time. They go through a daily routine. Students don’t have a lot of control. As teachers – we are frustrated that our students need to be directed or “spoon fed”.
Choice boards put students in control of their learning. This not only increases student engagement, but it also makes them responsible for what they are learning. With key skills like multiplication, it certainly does not hurt for students to take ownership of their knowledge and learning!
Clearly, I know how important choice is and the great affects choice boards can have in the classroom.
This is why I created a multiplication choice board resource that is ready to print and use with your students. This choice board includes nine various activities to help your students practice their multiplication. Activities include creating a multiplication song, correcting a math mistake, and much more. Our free resource library has a choice board that you can implement in your classroom today.
