Helping a Student with Learning Disabilities Memorize Multiplication Facts

Abstract A sixth grade student’s ability to memorize multiplication facts was investigated.  The overall goal of the work was to improve the student’s understanding and knowledge of basic multiplication facts (0-10) for the zeroes, to fives.  There were 66 facts, for example 4 x 6 = 24. The student had been taught multiplication concepts in her elementary years and she did have a basic understand of the meaning of multiplication facts as shown on a pretest.  She understood that 4 x 6 is a representation of four sets of six or 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24.  The student’s previous knowledge and history were used to develop an individualized education plan to help her have a better understanding of the concept and to memorize basic multiplication facts. The interventions were concrete, semi-concrete, and abstract models of instruction. A pretest was given prior to the sessions and a posttest was given after the sessions. The number of sessions was determined based on the student’s ability to learn the concepts. The student was successful at memorizing multiplication facts for the zeroes through fives. The next study will be to help the student achieve automaticity of the multiplication facts.