Who Has? Decks: Multiplication Facts

Once students have developed conceptual understanding of the basic operations they need to develop fluency with the facts.   One quick way to include daily practice and motivate students to master these basic facts is through the use of the Who Has? card decks.   These decks can be created for virtually any topic and frequent use as both a whole class practice or as a center activity for partners or small groups will provide facts practice in a highly-motivating format.

Classroom Management Strategies

There are several strategies that have proven successful when implementing this activity:

• Distributing Cards:   Distribute one card to each student, then distribute the extras to strong students in the beginning and to random students as the class becomes more familiar with the deck.
• Class Play:   As you distribute the cards, encourage students to begin thinking about what the question for their card might be so that they are prepared to answer.   When all cards are distributed, select the "0" card or any student to begin.   Play continues until the game comes back to the original card.   That student answers and then says "stop" to signal the end of the game.
• Timed Play:   Consider using a stopwatch to time the class game.   Record the time on the board so that students try each game to beat their current best time.   This practice encourages students to stay attentive and prompts students to practice basic facts so that the class time improves. 
• Calling Out Answers:Discourage this practice by adding 5 seconds onto the class time whenever you hear an answer from someone who does not hold the card.   Use the same penalty for students who express vocal displeasure with delays by other students.
• Partner or Small-Group Play:  
  • One student deals out the cards to all players.
  • Players arrange the cards face-up in front of them.   Students will find that arranging the cards in order from least to greatest will help them locate cards quickly.
  • Play begins with the "0" card or any card held by the player to the dealer's left.
  • Play continues as in the class game. Whoever has the card that answers the question reads that answer and then reads the question on that card.
  • Students turn over the cards after reading them.
  • The first person to turn over all his/her cards, wins the game. [Note: this is completely random but don't tell the students!]
  • Shuffle the cards and repeat the game.

The current record for the multiplication deck was held by a fourth grade class in New Jersey who completed the deck in 59 seconds. 

 

Mrs. Leanne Cherosky's 5th grade class at Buffalo Elementary just e-mailed that they broke the record with a time of :56.593.  Congratulations, 5th graders!!!  

If your class beats this record, be sure to leave a comment on this post with grade level, school and the time.