Dear Parents,In reviewing our Harkins School Improvement Plan for Numeracy, teachers have identified basic multiplication facts as a general area of need for our students.  We have established the following goal, and we need your help to attain it:Improve automaticity of basic math facts [multiplication] by way of pre-testing, games/activities, testing and resources for parents.Multiplication facts are the basis for many multi-step questions in middle school math and beyond.  It is therefore very important that students develop fluency and precision in the multiplication of basic fact families, from x1 to x12.  At school, we will be learning and practicing these facts, as the above school improvement goal outlines.  We would like to offer some online resources for parents so that you can help your child practice at home.  Dedicating merely 5 minutes a day to multiplication facts can make a difference.  If you would like hard-copy resources, like multiplication test-sets, please feel free to contact your child’s math teacher.  Listed below are some great online sites to help you help your child:• Multiplication printables and other resources/strategies:  http://math.about.com/cs/multiplication/a/multws.htm  This site offers a wide array of printable quizzes and practice material.  It's organized by Deb Russell, an American Math specialist & principal. She suggests working from the 2s, 5s and 10s first then the doubles (6x6,7x7, 8x8) then move to each of the fact families: 3s, 4s, 6s,7s, 8s and 9s, 11s and 12s. • Hit the Button (practice game): http://www.wmnet.org.uk/resources/gordon/Hit%20the%20button%20v9.swf • Diaper Derby (practice game): http://www.multiplication.com/games/play/diaper-derby • Granny Prix (practice game): http://www.multiplication.com/games/play/granny-prix   • Multiplication.com (various practice games): http://www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm  • Speed Math Trainer (rote practice): http://www.jimmyr.com/blog/speed_math.html •Splat (two player practice):  http://www.active-maths.co.uk/games1/splat/splat_times.html • Meteor Multiplication (practice game): http://www.arcademics.com/games/meteor/meteor.html •Fun4theBrain (various practice games) http://www.fun4thebrain.com/mult.htmlIf you find other multiplication resources that we can include in the above list, please email amy.barrieau@nbed.nb.ca and we will add the link and share it with all.We appreciate your continued support and partnership and thank you for your involvement in your child’s academic success.Harkins Middle School Math Teachers