Multiplication Wrap-Ups Review

Math comes easy to some kids. Not so easy for others. I've had kids breeze right through their math facts with no problems while others have needed extra hands-on tools to help them along. Timberdoodle's Multiplication Wrap-Ups have come in handy for two of my kids. One is older and often needs to review math facts before getting into the day's regular school work. The other one is my third grader who is just now mastering his multiplication tables. The multiplication wrap-ups are part of the Timberdoodle Third Grade Kit but can be used for any age or any stage of learning. 

My strengths in school as a kid were reading and writing, not math or science. I needed tutoring lessons for math and was continually taking remedial math classes in my school to help me along. One tool that I vividly remember helping me, way back then, was these wrap-ups! Though most of my struggles were in high school, I even struggled with the basics back in the beginning, so having these wrap-ups to make learning seem more like a game was helpful. 

I remember sitting on the living room floor or hanging out in my bedroom trying to figure these out. To me, they were like puzzles. I enjoyed trying to get them all right. And the best part? They are self-correcting! I remember trying so hard to get all of the answers right on one particular number and checking the back to ensure none were wrong. If they were, I would fix them and move on. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and did not ever make me feel less than for not knowing my multiplication facts as well as some of the other kids. 

It does not look like the product has changed much from when I used it as a kid. When the multiplication wrap-ups arrived in the mail for my kids, it was exactly as I remembered it! With options to practice your multiplication tables from one to ten, these are easy to store and extremely durable. We keep them in our living room, and when my kids are in the mood to fidget, this is the perfect fidget toy. It keeps their hands occupied and their brains sharp!

My tactile learners love the grooves on the back of each number practice that align with the strings if done correctly on the front. They are able to work the math problems on the front and when they have completed them they can check their work, without any adult help—which is great for parents who are homeschooling multiple children. I do suggest that a parent first instructs the child how to use this the first couple of times until they build their confidence. 

Make sure you let your child know that they need to begin with the top number on the left and work their way down. I know that some kids like to knock out the easy problems first and then go for the harder ones. I allow this for younger learners on their math papers, for example, they can work on all of the one multiplication problems before tackling the seven or eights. That method will not work with the multiplication wrap-ups—there simply is not enough string for that. Although that might make it frustrating at first, it helps your child learn problem solving skills quickly and efficiently.  

 

As you can see below, when your child has completed a multiplication table if he turns it over and sees some of the lines, 

then he knows he has some that are incorrect. 

On the flipside, if all of the lines are covered, then he got them all correct! What a satisfying feeling! Then he can move on to a more difficult times table and before he knows it, all ten times tables will be completed! If speed is the goal, you can have him set a timer and try to beat his score daily. Many math programs use speed drills or some type of timed tests to perfect a child's math skills. This is a great option for the tactile, hands-on learner! You can time them, a sibling can, or if your child is an independent student, he can do it himself, keeping track in a notebook or on an app and turning it into you at the end of the week so you can monitor his progress.  

The multiplication wrap-ups are an excellent hands-on tool for the kinesthetic learner—a must-have for a hands-on education! Be sure to pick one up and keep it in your sensory bin, morning basket, or, like us, on a bookshelf in the living room!

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Timberdoodle for providing the above product in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.