Many students with Learning Disabilities (LD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) have a difficult time with long-term memory. This becomes very evident in the area of Math. By the time they reach 5th or 6th grade many still can't remember certain multiplication facts.

I have been in classrooms as a behavior specialist observing students display increasingly inappropriate behavior in response to being forced once again to perform time tests on their multiplication tables. I asked the teacher why he felt they displayed these behaviors. His response was that they didn't want to do the work. I agreed with him. I then told him, "What if they just can't remember their math facts?" He replied, "They must if they are to be successful."

I disagree. I am one of those individuals who to this day can't remember my 6, 7, 8, or 9 times table multiplication facts. However, this does not mean we are dumb, lazy, or unmotivated by any means. It just means that we need a tool to help us. I have come up with a simple way to do these math facts using finger math. With practice it can be done quickly and privately. And I wish to emphasize that counting on one's fingers is not a deficit but a tool. I tell students if anyone makes fun of them or tries to get them to stop, to respond by telling them that it works for us; if they have a problem with it, they can walk away.

Here are some photos with the explanation on how to perform these simple calculations. I have had some teachers say it is just too much to remember, but if you give it some practice, you will be amazed. I have taught this to hundreds of students and teachers with great success. I have seen students learn how to use this tool and say, "Why couldn't someone teach me this before?"

STEP 1
Each finger represents a number