Multiplication: Building Blocks of Mathematics by Joseph Midthun and Samuel Hiti: This is a comic-book style nonfiction book that both Kona and Tahoe enjoyed very much, so we read it together several times. (And since the grands have to spend time reading as part of their homework, these books can fulfill two subjects on their homework list.) I have summarized and explained how I used these books below. While the main point of using the books was to teach a math concept, I also was able to find a way to include a “Reading Focus” as we read and discussed the books together. I was amazed at the number of books (and other resources) that were available. Read and discuss books- Whenever I plan a study unit, I start with books from my local library. (In fact, as I worked through this unit with the grands, Tahoe became very interested in multiplication and wanted to read several of the books, which are listed below, over and over again.)
On some days I may include Tahoe, age six, so he will get exposure to the multiplication tables. Tigger, fifth grade, will be involved too because he still needs review of the times tables to help him with division. I plan to have Kona do one intelligence a day, rotating among the variety of activities. The teacher hasn’t given specific ideas on “how to study” the times tables as part of their homework, so I have created a study unit and planned activities using each of the eight Multiple Intelligences to use with the grands. Since one of the grands, Kona, is in third grade, part of his homework every night is to study his times tables. Children usually don’t understand what it means to “study” and need to be taught this as a skill, either in the classroom, or by a caregiver (parent, grandparent, sitter). Often, part of their homework will be to “study” some topic. Tigger is in 5th grade so he is reading the book that focuses on multiplication and division (see below).