Why Teaching Multiplication Tables is So Difficult, Especially for Students with Learning Difficulties

Teaching multiplication tables is a fundamental part of early math education, yet it can be a daunting task for many students, particularly those with learning difficulties. Mastering multiplication requires not just rote memorization. Let’s explore the challenges of teaching multiplication tables, focusing especially on the difficulties faced by students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and attention deficit disorders.

Cognitive Demands of Learning Multiplication

Learning multiplication is more than just memorizing numbers; it requires a combination of cognitive functions that can present hurdles for many students. These include:

1. Working Memory: Multiplication tables demand the ability to hold and manipulate information in one’s mind.
2. Pattern Recognition: Understanding multiplication requires recognizing patterns. The relationship between numbers such as 2 x 3 and 3 x 2 being the same (commutative property) is based on seeing the underlying patterns in multiplication.
3. Cognitive Load: Multiplication tables place a heavy load on cognitive resources. Students are expected to quickly recall a large amount of information, often while juggling additional math concepts such as addition or subtraction. This becomes even more challenging for students with slower processing speeds or those who need more time to internalize mathematical relationships.

Specific Learning Disabilities and Multiplication Challenges

Certain learning disabilities uniquely affect how a student interacts with multiplication tasks.

• Dyslexia: While primarily associated with reading, dyslexia can also impact a student’s ability to learn multiplication due to its connection with working memory and sequencing difficulties. For example, a student with dyslexia may mix up the order of digits (e.g., confusing 7 x 6 for 6 x 7) or struggle to recall the proper sequence of numbers. The difficulties in processing symbolic information, like numbers, can make memorizing multiplication tables laborious and frustrating.
• Dyscalculia: This specific learning disability directly affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers. Students with dyscalculia may have trouble recognizing numbers, understanding their relationships, or recalling number facts. Learning multiplication tables for these students is especially tough, as they may not be able to easily grasp the connections between, for example, 4 x 3 and 12. Even basic counting strategies used to help memorize the tables may not be intuitive for these learners.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Students with ADHD often struggle with sustained attention, making it difficult for them to focus on repetitive tasks like memorizing multiplication tables. They may find the process tedious, losing interest before they can fully memorize the facts. Moreover, the high level of distractibility often associated with ADHD can make it harder to retrieve and apply multiplication facts in real-time situations.

Overcoming Anxiety and Negative Attitudes

For students with learning difficulties, frustration with multiplication can lead to math anxiety—a state of distress when faced with math tasks. The feeling of constant failure or the inability to recall facts quickly can make students anxious, which further impairs their performance. This creates a vicious cycle where anxiety lowers performance, and lower performance increases anxiety.

Students with learning difficulties are particularly prone to this kind of anxiety, as they often require more time and practice to achieve proficiency. They may compare themselves to their peers, further lowering their confidence. Negative attitudes towards math are difficult to reverse and can influence a student’s motivation to engage with multiplication.

Strategies to Support Students

Given these challenges, it is critical for teachers to employ strategies tailored to the needs of students with learning difficulties.

1. Multi-sensory Learning: Teaching multiplication using a variety of methods—visual aids, hands-on materials, auditory repetition—can help students engage with the material in ways that suit their cognitive strengths. For instance, visual learners might benefit from arrays or grids, while auditory learners may recall tables better through songs or rhymes.
2. Small Chunks and Frequent Review: Breaking multiplication learning into small chunks and revisiting facts regularly can reduce the cognitive load on students with working memory issues. For example, starting with the 2s and 5s tables—patterns that are easier to recognize—can build confidence before moving onto more complex tables like 7s or 8s.
3. Use of Technology: Apps or games that focus on multiplication can make the learning process more engaging for students with ADHD or those prone to boredom. Interactive tools that give immediate feedback can help keep students on task and interested, reducing the impact of distractions.
4. Focus on Understanding, Not Just Memorization: Rather than emphasizing rote memorization, teachers can focus on helping students understand the concept of multiplication. This could involve using real-life examples, such as grouping objects, or explaining multiplication in the context of repeated addition. Understanding the “why” behind multiplication helps students retain information better.

Conclusion

Teaching multiplication tables is a complex task that requires students to utilize various cognitive skills, from working memory to pattern recognition. For students with learning difficulties like dyslexia, dyscalculia, or ADHD, these tasks are particularly challenging. However, with the right strategies—multi-sensory approaches, small chunks of information, engaging tools, and a focus on conceptual understanding—teachers can make the process more accessible, ensuring that all students have a fair chance to succeed in math. As parents and teachers, we know how tedious and painful teaching the times tables can be. This can be made worse if your child / student faces learning difficulties. Here is how you can start teaching the 9 times tables.