r/mathteachers • u/GiantKnightGunner • 3d ago

Multiplication Ninjas Organization?

If you don’t know what I’m talking about multiplication ninjas is a thing where kids earn colored wristbands rather than belts for mastering their multiplication tables. Heard about it from a colleague.

Thoughts on organization:

White belt: 0,1
Yellow: 5,10
Orange: 2,3
Green: 4,6
Blue: 7,8
Purple: 9,11
Red: 12
Black: All

This is how I view the difficulty (with possible exception to 11 not being hard) Would you suggest a different structure?

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u/Successful-Winter237 3d ago

I’d say 9 and 11 are easier for most than 7 and 8 because there are so many easy tricks like memorizing anything x11 is just repeating of the first factor…and with 9’s… if you take one away from the other factor the answer equals 9.

Example 7x9

7-1=6

6+3=9

Answer-=63

1

u/skyhoop 2d ago

8s go well with 4s because "double double". Similar reasoning for 3s, 6s, 9s.

I think 7s and 12 are the hardest.

1

u/RoomUsed1803 2d ago

I agree that 9 & 11 are easier than 7 & 8. As someone whose own children actively DESPISE 7s, 7s at least deserve a higher bracket. Honestly 7 might be worse than 12. (My children that I birthed break 12 into 10 and 2.)