Guest Author - Meg Grooms



I remember learning multiplication tables in school, more specifically I remember the pain caused by attempting to memorize the tables. I have always been good at memorizing but not so great at multiplication. Though I managed my way through high school and college with this modicum of knowledge I was committed to making learning multiplication facts easier for my children. I wasn't so successful at first, until we happened across the 10 Days to Multiplication Mastery by Learning Wrap-Ups.



A Wrap-Up is an ingenious key shaped piece of pastic with an attached string. Each key represents one factor, such as "times 1". The multipliers are listed down the left side of the key and the answers on the right. Place the red string next to the multiplier, do the problem in your head, and wrap the string around to the answer. When you finish the key flip it over and check if the string pattern matches the etched pattern. If the strings and etches line up you correctly finished the key and can move on to the next one.




The teacher's guide that comes with the 10 Days kit isn't cumbersome, rather it is very valuable. Inside you will find simple lesson plans for 10 days worth of lessons, a reproducible chart for keeping track of your child's progress and ideas to further facilitate memorization of facts in a simple and non-threatening way. I'm a parent who often shys away from teacher's guides with lesson plans as I feel they often progress in a way that isn't in tune with my indivdual child, however the teachers guide in this kit does not fall into that category. The book promises 10 days to faster multiplication fact recall, and if you follow the lessons you will see nothing less than promised.



Learning Wrap-Ups are a lot of fun and especially effective for the child who must do and see in order to learn. Wrap-Ups are the perfect manipulative for the fidgety child. Wrap-Ups have the bonus of being inexpensive, durable and easy to carry around for practice away from home.



Wrap-Ups are available in several packages to meet every budget. For as little as $6 or so you can purchase one set of Wrap-Ups in a variety of subjects. Wrap-Ups cover subjects such as math, history and language. You can buy a more involved kit which includes one Wrap-Up set and a teaching guide for approximately $10. For a few dollars more you can buy the deluxe kits which include one set of Wrap-Ups, a teacher's guide and an audio CD (the CDs are also sold alone.)



Wrap-Ups are definately a product I feel is worth the cost, and I highly suggest purchasing the kit with a teacher's guide. Wrap-Ups are fun and portable, allowing your child to learn in the way they like best when they are ready, and they aren't tied down to a text book.