Ways to Learn Multiplication Facts

I have a 10-year-old in fifth grade who still hasn't memorized all of the multiplication facts. I have him tutoring with a teacher, listening to multiplication rap, and I am testing him every few days. What else can I do to help him learn his 3s, 7s and 8s? - Math Difficulties
Answer: Your son definitely needs to know all the multiplication facts as soon as possible. Everything you have been doing to help him has involved rote learning. For him to master multiplication, you must involve him more actively in learning the facts.
Concentrate first on having him learn just the 3s. Use flashcards, and don't consider a fact learned unless he can give the answer in three seconds. If he does not know the answer for a fact such as 3 x 6, have him draw three parallel, horizontal lines and then six parallel, vertical lines that intersect the horizontal lines. Next, he should put a dot at each intersection point. Finally, have him count the dots to get the answer, and then have him write out the problem and answer before going on to another flashcard. Continue working with the 3s in this way until your son has learned every fact. When your son has mastered the 3s, this same process can be used to help him learn the 7s and 8s.
It might give your son a boost of encouragement if you show him how many of the 7 and 8 facts he already knows. For example, use blocks to illustrate that 7 x 3 is exactly the same as 3 x 7, a fact that he knows.
When you work with the 8s, use flashcards again. Whenever your son doesn't know an answer, have him multiply the number by 4, then double it to get the answer. If necessary, he can write everything out. For the 7s, show your son that a fact such as 7 x 9 is the same as 3 x 9 + 4 x 9. Then have him use this strategy whenever he does not know the answer to a 7 fact. It will be much easier for your son to handle multiplication once he has strategies to find answers for facts that are not firmly rooted in his memory. The strategies will also help him memorize the facts.