Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • My Book Announcements
    • We Sing From the Heart wins Julia Ward Howe prize for children’s literature!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Carter G. Woodson Book Award Honoree!
    • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco featured in Booklist
    • Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO
    • Book Announcement: A Place to Call Home! {and a new title …}
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
Menu
Skip Counting Songs for Multiplication and Division Facts

Skip Counting Songs for Multiplication and Division Facts

Posted on September 25, 2011May 29, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

Skip Counting Songs to Learn Multiplication and Division

I was slow to get her oldest to master multiplication facts.  By the middle of third grade, my daughter was tested weekly on multiplication; times twos, times five, and times ten were not so hard but then all of a sudden, we had a week to learn x3, then another week for x4, and on and on.  Yikes.  A fast way to learn multiplication was in order.  Luckily, my mom friend was a third grade teacher.  She found that some children learn very effortlessly through song.  These are the skip-counting songs that she taught in her classroom.   Although, my daughter wasn’t that excited to sing these songs, hearing them sung incessantly helped her to master multiplication, and these songs work even better for division.

p.s. Other math posts.

Math Karaoke App for Learning Math Facts

More Multiplication Strategies from Kids That Work

Math Facts Games for Kids

 

Skip Counting Songs to Learn Multiplication (and Division)

Times 8 — This is best song.  Sing to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain”

8, 16, 24, 32….40!

48, 56, 64….72!

8 times 10 equals 80, 8 times 11 equals 88, and 8 times 12 is 96… Hurrah!  Hurrah!

Times 7 – Sing to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (which incidentally is the same tune as the ABC song)

7, 14, 21

28, 35, 42

49, 56, 63, 70

7, 14, 21

28, 35, 42

Times 4 – Sing to tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

4, 8, 12, 16

20, 24

28, 32, 36, and 40

44, 48

Times 6- Sing to the tune of “The Star-Spangled Banner”

6, 12, 18 24

30, 36

42, 48, 54….60

Times 3 – Sing to the tune of  “Oh My Darlin’ Clementine”

3, 6, 9

12, 15

18 and 21

24, 27, 30 and 33.

Multiplying by 9’s Digit Trick

This link is great because it has great visuals.

 1

Spread your hands in front of you and put your far left finger down for factor that you are calculating that is not 9. 

9 trick, multiplication

9 x 1 = 9
See how there are 9 fingers to the right of the folded pinkie? 0 + 9 = 9

2

times 9 trick

Count out and fold the finger

9 x 2 = 18, see how there is 1 next to the folded finger and then 8 to the right of that? 10 + 8 = 18

Count the fingers to the left of the folded finger. In this example, there are two. This is the first digit of your answer. Write it down. Then add the fingers to the right of the folded finger. There are 8 fingers. 1 and 8. 18.

3

9 trick, x 9,

9 x 3 = 27

See how there are 2 fingers to the left of the folded finger and 7 to the right?

20 + 7 = 27

4

multiplication tricks

9 x 4 = 36

See how there are 3 fingers folded to the left of the finger and 6 to the right?

30 + 6 = 36

Count the fingers to the right of the folded finger. In this example, there are six. This is the second digit of the answer. Write it down to the right of the number you wrote down in the previous step. In this case, the number will now read 36 or thirty-six.

5

nine times multiplication

9 x 5 = 45

4 fingers to the left of the folded finger. 5 fingers to the right of folded fingers.

40 + 5 = 45

6

multiplication tricks

9 x 6 = 54

5  fingers to the left of folded finger. 4 fingers to the right of folded finger. 50 + 4= 54

Write down the number of fingers to the left of the folded finger. 5. This is the first number. Then the number of fingers to the left of the folded finger.

50 + 4 = 54

7

9 times tables

9 x 7 = 63
6 fingers to the left of the folded finger. 3 Fingers to the Right.

60 + 3 = 63

8
hand trick for 9 times

9 x 8 = 72

7 fingers to the left of folded finger. 2 fingers to the left of it.

70 + 2 = 72

9

multiplication

9 x 9 = 81
8 fingers to the left of the folded finger. 1 finger to the right of it.

80 + 1 + 81

10

9 x 10 = 90

You just have to add a zero next to the 9 for x 10.

8 x 8 Math Fact Rhyme

Her teacher taught the class this rhyme that has enabled her 4 year-old brother to master this one math fact (8  x 8):

I ate and I ate until I threw up on the floor,

so 8 times 8 is 64!

I also like flash cards.  The easy way is just to sort cards by what your child knows, and focus on the cards that s/he is learning.  Another slightly more fun way is to pick all the cards out of a box and if you know the card you take it out, if not, put it back.  Keep doing it until the box is empty.

Free and Fun Multiplication Math Games

My 4th grade daughter’s teacher sent home these math games.  She plays them daily and she loves them!  Games 2 and 3 are her favorite!

1.     Cyber Challenge:  This website gives 60-second math fact tests.  When the 60 seconds is up, the student is able to see which math facts they mastered as well as the ones they got wrong.  My daughter thinks this game is boring so start with this one.
2.      Math Blox Game:  In previous years, this website has been a class favorite.  It offers each student the opportunity to practice the particular math fact that they are working on.  For example, if a student has trouble with the 5’s, they can consistently practice just that skill.   This is my daughter’s favorite game as well.  It’s great to practice by a particular fact family; I think it’s easier to learn facts this way as well.
3.     Academic Skill Builders Race Car Game.  This website usually sparks the most interest in mastering multiplication facts.  It offers students the opportunity to host their own car racing game or join in on a car race with others.  In order to get your car moving, you need to gas it up by answering a multitude of basic math fact problems correctly.  It truly is a ton of fun.  My daughter likes this game but the multiplication facts can be easy.  In a race, there might be 5 facts that are times 1.  The game gives you the problems you get wrong, plus this slows your race car down.
Pragmatic Mom suggests playing three games per session.  Start with game #1 as it’s the most boring of the three.  Next, go to game two and work on a particular x-factor.  Game #3 is really fun because you race against yourself or other kids.  There are other games if you click on the link on the first screen. You can also customize some of the games for certain fact families if you make the game “private.”

p.s. Related posts:

70+ Free Educational Games

Mastering Multiplication Math Facts

Place Value Math for Kids with Books, Game, and Music Video

Summer Math Ideas for Elementary and Middle School

Video Games for STEM Summer Learning

Adding to Ten Math Games

Math Games For Kids Inspired by Olympics

Best Math Games to Add to 10

DIY Math Games Invented by Kids (2nd-5th grade)

25 Math Skills Games for Kids

Subtraction and Adding to Ten Math Facts Games

Math Facts Games for Kids

To examine any of the items listed, please click on image of item. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
  • Starred review from School Library Journal
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

cover for Sumo JoeChanging the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison FoleyAsian Pacific American Heroes

11 thoughts on “Skip Counting Songs for Multiplication and Division Facts”

  1. Craftwhack says:
    December 2, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    I love you! I’ve been looking for good ways to drill multiplication into my daughter’s head. The flash cards are so boooooooooring.

    Reply
  2. Evelyn Krieger says:
    September 30, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Skip counting is more than a memory aid–it helps kids later on when they need to use and understand multiples. Some math programs make this a regular part of learning multiplication. This song is particularly helpful to auditory kids. I can still recall my 3rd grade teacher’s multiplication chants. “9 time 6 is 54, shut the door and say no more!”

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 30, 2012 at 9:32 pm

      Hi Evelyn,
      I just recited that 9 times 6 one to my kids! Thanks! It’s hard to find great rhymes for math facts. The one that is stuck with me is:
      I ate and ate and I threw up on the floor, so 8 times 8 is 64. It does work! I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I noticed that when my oldest was learning her multiplication tables, she’d recite those skip counting songs and she ticked off which number … it definitely worked for her!

      Reply
      1. Pragmatic Mom says:
        September 30, 2012 at 9:34 pm

        Hi Evelyn,
        Do you believe the research that says that kids DO not learn a particular way (ie visual or auditory?). I don’t buy it. My oldest is definitely someone who learns visually. Did you see that study?

        Reply
    2. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 2, 2012 at 5:49 pm

      Hi Evelyn,
      Today at lunch with my middle daughter and her friend, I learned that they are having trouble with their 8x tables. So we sang the skip counting song and they actually liked it! It’s the best song out of the skip counting ones because it has a fun tune (She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain). Though I had to write it out because it’s not that easy for me to remember all the facts:

      8, 16, 24, 32, 40! (You really belt out the 40!)
      48, 56, 64, 73!! (Same with 73!)
      8 times 10 equals 80,
      8 times 11 equals 88
      And 8 times 12 equals 96, Hurrah, Hurrah!!

      Reply
  3. Rebecca says:
    October 6, 2012 at 3:18 am

    Brilliant post. I’ll be coming back to this one for the songs in a couple of years.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 6, 2012 at 8:09 am

      Hi Rebecca,
      Thanks so much! We used the skip counting songs for the 8x this past week and it’s a fun way to learn. It seems to be helping my daughter. I’m not sure if she’s an auditory learner but it’s more than she doesn’t mind drilling this way. She is less inclined to use flash cards but we will also play some web games and I’ll set it up to isolate the 8x facts.

      http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/grand_prix/grand_prix.html and use custom to set the math facts.

      Reply
  4. Jacquie F. says:
    November 2, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Can’t believe this but we are on 8’s this week – timing is perfect! And my daughter so loves to put things to music so this is perfect -thank you!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      November 3, 2012 at 8:06 am

      Hi Jacquie,
      The 8’s song is the best one!

      Reply
  5. Cyndi H. says:
    October 2, 2017 at 9:50 pm

    I teach my class a similar 8 x 8 rhyme:

    He ate and ate and got sick on the floor.
    8×8 is 64

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 24, 2018 at 6:46 pm

      LOL! That’s memorable! Thanks for sharing Cyndi!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Linktree (click for my links & socials)

my linktree

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
Read Your World is Multicultural Children's Book Day

ClothingRIC- A Premium Coupon Website!

ThingsFromMars- The Wondrous World of Wacky Gift Products!

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress

AdvancedWriters.com is an expert writing service which helps students with academic writing.

educational toys

CEX.IO is a versatile crypto exchange platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as well as access resources and tools to learn how to trade effectively.

MyPaperDone.com
is surely one of the best when it comes to paper writing assistance.

My Custom Essay
will guide you through academic life.

Essay Writing Services

If you ask "write my essay", Topessaywriting can help you with paper writing

TranslationReport can help you to choose the best translation service

If you are looking for the most trusted essay writing service, check this article about best essay writing service reviews at Econotimes

educational toys from dhgate stores

Assignment Writing Services Offer Assignment Assistance In UK Based Company 50% Discount Students

Playing at online casinos can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and you can find the best options at casinoszondercruksonline.com. 

For those seeking a safe and reputable gambling experience, the Meest betrouwbare buitenlandse casino lijst is an invaluable resource.

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

Archives

I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • Read Your World Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month Virtual Event July 16, 2025
  • The Traveling Taco Unboxing! July 14, 2025
  • The 2026 PADIBA Awards are now open for submissions! July 11, 2025
  • We Sing From the Heart wins Julia Ward Howe prize for children’s literature! July 9, 2025
  • Changing the Game’s 4th Birthday & 4 Signed Book GIVEAWAY! July 7, 2025

Categories

© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT