The 10 Best Multiplication Games to Download Today!

There's all kinds on on-line games to help kids learn their multiplication facts, but sometimes you just want a great, easy to play, simple game that you can give to kids to play at school or at home. Sometimes it may need popsicle sticks, dominos, or even a game board. They are perfect to play with a buddy, and help develop interpersonal skills as well as math skills. I've scoured the Internet and here are my top ten to download today! Enjoy!! By the way....there are more than ten games, some links have multiple games...even better!

1.   This great game from "Fun Games for Learning" is super simple and tons of fun. All you need is a set of dominos!  You can use this one for learning addition facts, or for multiplication.  

Dominom Multiplication Game

2.  This game from "Games for Learning" is one of my favorites!  It includes the free game board as a download. it's great to schedule for the sub since it takes awhile to play.  It can easily be played for half of your math block.  It's also perfect as "homework" for multiplication math fact practice. What's better than a game to play with mom or dad?  I have also included an answer sheet checklist to give to kids as well. One kid plays, the other checks his/her answer. 

Multiplication Squares Game

Answer sheet for 0-12

3.  This site called Bloglovin' actually has three fun multiplication games with a freebie.  The first is a Kaboom game with popsicle sticks, the second is multiplication sppons, and the third is headband multiplication.  All are fun and easy to prepare. The freebie link is just above the last graphic picture.

Three Multiplications Games Your Kids Will Love!

4.  This game from "Suiper Teacher Worksheets" is a super fun game kids love to play...and it's free! It's fun to pull out when you have an extra five or ten minutes at the end of math! It's the first link at the top of the page.

I Have/Who Has Freebie

5. Ok, this is mine, but I love it! So do the kids! You can pull out and combination of multiplication cards that you happen to be working on. There are multiplication cards from 1 through 12.  It is a free 18 page download. 

Feed the Chickens Multiplication Game

6.  I have to admit that I love witches, it doesn't have to be Halloween either. Kids are that way too, so this fun game from "Teacher Take-Out" will become a quick and easy game favorite in no time!

Wicked Witch, A Thrilling Multiplication Game

7. This fun game from "Math Coach's Corner" is perfect for teaching the 2s, 4s, and 8s using the doubling strategy. Love this one!

Double, Double, Double

8.  Love the math games on this site, especially Multiplication War. All you need is a deck of cards and kids! They love this one!  Other games here are equally as good!

Multiplication War and More!

9.  Multiplication Spiral from "Math Geek Mama" is SUCH a great game! Kids will love this and it is wonderful math fact practice!

Spiral Math

10. Lastly I wanted to share this great site that has 22 fun hands-on activities and games to help kids learn their facts. It's a good one and FULL of great stuff!

22 Fun, Hands-on Ways to Teach Multiplication

So that's it! I hope you find a bunch of great games that you and your students find useful!

If you are interested in a new way to teach multiplication that REALLY works, click on the picture  below.

Here They Come!

It's almost that time again! Didn't the summer just start???? 

Get some inspiration and great ideas for those first days of school right here! 

Getting the room ready is always, always a biggy on my list. I want my students to feel at home the first time they come through the door! Once they are in the classroom, those first lessons are crucial for setting the tone! I hope the ideas, sites, and the freebie make this your best year yet!

First is the classroom! 

Until the classroom is ready,  I'm a little crazy.  Here is a Pinterest board with every idea you will need for decorating your door, bulletin boards or classroom organization throughout the year! Get ideas, ideas and more ideas!

Click Here

Next comes those first day plans!

Do you need first day activities your students will love? Try some of these:

1. True or false? Give your students ten true or false statements about your curriculum this year. Ask them to write their guesses on a piece of scrap paper. Choose your very best curriculum ideas for the true answers (special days, special lessons etc) , and some really grueling terrible things for false, (for example "you will need to stay after school at least one hour each week to do extra work throughout the year). It's a fun way to give kids an idea about great things to come this year, and give them a laugh at the false statments. 

2.  Ask students to make a self portrait with a sentence or two describing themselves. Make sure you make one of yourself too. These are great to mount on construction paper and put into the hall for open house.

3. Sticker Pals:  Have enough pairs of stickers to cover your class. As students come into the room on the first day put a sticker on his or her hand. Make sure another student has a matching sticker. Soon after entering the room (before the stickers fall off!) ask each student to find their sticker pal. They then interview each other for about five or ten minutes to find out their partner's name, hobbies, etc. When all interviews are finished get in a circle and have partners introduce each other. 

4. Write a "Dear Me" letter. This is a letter students write to themselves on the first day of school. They can discuss their feelings about starting the new year, what they expect to learn, what they think will be hard/easy, or anything else they would like to include. Give each student an envelope for their letter, and ask them to write their name on the envelope and seal it. Collect the envelopes and put them in a special file. On the last day of school pass the letters back to your students to read and discuss. They make a great discussion for that last day, when books are put away and there is little to do. This makes that last day meaningful and memorable. Just a note: When you get new students throughout the year, have them do the same "Dear Me" letter as they enter your classroom. That way they won't be left out. 

5. End the day with a great book! I always read "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry. It's about Sam from the moment he is born and what he thinks. It is hilarious, and with a little "hamming it up" when you read it, they will absolutely leave school the first day with a smile! I read it every day before they go home. It takes about a week or so to finish. When they find out there are a lot more "Sam" books they are off to the library to find them!

6. Toothpaste Challenge. This one is to teach respect and let students know that respecting each other is a requirement in your classroom. Divide students into groups of three or four. Give each group a small travel size tube of toothpaste and a paper plate. Ask each group to squeeze out every bit of toothpaste they can. Next ask them to use only a toothpick and get all of the toothpaste back into the tube. Of course they can't. Explain that the toothpaste is like the words we say. Once they come out of our mouth, they can't be put back in again. 

7.  Ice breakers! For lots of icebreakers and other first day activities download my FREEBIE  below. Just click the "click here" link at the bottom of the pictures. 

I hope you've found some ideas that can make this year start out better than any other so far! 

For other ideas in guided reading, science, social studies and more be sure to follow me on Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/janbernard10/

Christmas FREEBIES Just for You!

With all the craziness that goes with the season, finding Christmas themed activities for your classroom that meet the Common Core can be a little challenging.  Not anymore! Take a look at the freebies and games below! Have a terrific vacation and a great holiday!

How about some math fact practice? To string the lights students must answer math fact questions. The harder the question, the more lights they earn. Really a fun one!

Click Here

These next three games come from the NorthPole.com. They are the best on the site (I think)

This great money counting game comes in easy, medium and hard!

Click Here

If you need a holiday themed game to help your students review/learn time, try this great one!

Click Here

This is SUCH a great site to use to engage even reluctant readers! Students click on areas of the reindeer barn to read about Raymond and his friends. They can read it themselves, or have it read to them! A perfect center activity!

Click Here

FREE! Get in some language skills with this fun and free resource! It includes a five page read-aloud story as well as two language worksheets for each grade level from first to fifth. Differentiation is a breeze with this freebie!

FREE! Homophones are soooo tricky! This game will make learning about homophones a lot more fun!

Click Here

If you are looking for a more complete resource for the Christmas holidays, check out my resource below! It's FILLED with teaching resources, gift ideas, party fun and much more!