Large Digit Multiplication can either be a joy to teach or a pain to teach. And if they don't know those all-important multiplication facts, they can be quite impossible to teach!
How do you teach Large Digit Multiplication?
I like to explain Traditional Multiplication and Lattice Multiplication. I have the students to work with both, and they can later choose the one that works for them to apply to multiplication problems.
For Traditional Multiplication, I color code my problem. As you can see, the ones place is purple and so is the first row, the tens place is red and so is the second row, and the hundreds place is black and so is the third row. This helps students see where the answers came from.
Also---PLEASE tell your students WHY we start the second row with a zero. I am always amazed at students who have no clue why we do this, they just know "to do it or it is wrong." Explain the math to them so they can see the beautiful pattern of math!
Do you teach lattice to your students? I only teach lattice once they conceptually understand the traditional way. They need to understand how each place value position works in the traditional before they draw the lattice board.
Since some students have never seen lattice before, I set up a "Scaffolding Paper" where the students solve the problems in order. For problem 1, I have already done most of the work. In problem 2, a step is taken away, and by problem 4, they are on their own. I use scaffolding papers a lot in my math class so that students are slowly becoming independent on solving math problems.
Hopefully these tips will help as you teach large digit multiplication. Sorry that I can't help with 5th graders who still don't know their multiplication facts! I struggle with that too---so if you have any tips for me on that, let me know! :)
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