By Jules Rhee, MEd | Published 10/5/2020; Updated 7/11/2026
Multiplication not clicking for your struggling students? Try these 3 simple interventions after the lesson, no reteaching required.
The multi-digit multiplication struggle
Does this sound familiar?
You’ve been teaching 2-digit multiplication for a week now, and your students just don’t get it.
You’ve tried all the usual things like giving students a multiplication chart, trying timed tests to teach facts, and offering incentives. I’m sure you’ve tried really hard. And your students probably tried pretty hard, too.
But they still don’t get it.
You’re not alone. And it’s not your fault.
If your whole class is still learning the steps, start with my complete walkthrough on 2-digit multiplication. It’ll take you through the process from start to finish.
But if you’ve already taught the lesson and a handful of kids are still stuck, keep reading. These 3 ideas are built for exactly that.
3 FAST Intervention ideas to try
Use these 3 FAST ideas for teaching multi-digit multiplication. They’ve stood the test of time and are worth the time and effort.
1. Messy columns cause most of the mistakes.
For a lot of struggling students, the math isn’t actually the problem. Where the numbers land on the page is.
Legible, lined-up numbers are crucial to success in math. Students simply must have legible handwriting and good alignment to keep numbers in columns.
The following few tips deal with keeping their numbers and columns lined up.
First, encourage students to write with nice, sharp pencils to keep their handwriting small and neat. Dull pencils smear and the writing is fatter, taking up more space.
Another tip to help with alignment is to use math graphic organizers. They’re great for keeping numbers and columns aligned.
You can see from the image below how the organizer keeps everything neatly lined up. Aligned numbers and columns are vital as students work and learn. Spacing is also crucial; these organizers allow students room to work without crowding their numbers.
CLICK HERE to read more about using these multiplication organizers with your students!
If your students don’t require much support or are ready to scaffold toward independence, you should try graph paper or grid paper. Graph paper has helped students succeed in math for decades and still works today. The grids easily keep numbers, columns, and rows neat and tidy.
If you don’t have time to make your own, these sets are prepared and ready immediately for class – just print and go! Perfect for busy teachers with students who require lots of practice and repetition.
Notebook paper turned sideways provides lines for students to keep their work neat. This strategy is cheap and SO EASY!
NOTE: Some students may struggle to write their numbers small enough to fit neatly between the lines.
But because it’s free, it’s definitely worth a try!
If you aren’t sure which sets are suitable for your students, try one of each – FREE! Click the image below to grab a FREE set to try!
2. Make fact practice a game, not a test.
Struggling students already feel behind. The last thing they need is another timer counting down while everyone watches.
I’m a big fan of mixing things up when it comes to teaching fact fluency. And you’ve got a lot of choices to keep students engaged and learning. I recommend fun activity pages, color-by-numbers, and a variety of different games to keep students’ attention and focus.
Not only do they make practicing fun, but they also encourage healthy competition and teamwork, all while helping those math facts stick.
Activity sets, like the one above, build multiplication fact fluency using cut-and-paste pages, mazes, color-by-numbers, timed tests, booklets to make, and games.
WHY VARIETY BUILDS MULTIPLICATION FACT FLUENCY FASTER:
When students practice multiplication facts through different activity types, like coloring, cutting and pasting, solving mazes, and playing games, their brains build stronger connections than through repetition alone.
Each new activity type reinforces what they already know while building confidence. That’s why often these different activities work when traditional worksheets don’t.
Other options for games can be as simple as using flashcards with a board game or tic-tac-toe. I suggest matching student partners with similar fluency levels to avoid upset feelings.
You can allow partners to use a multiplication chart to check each other’s answers.
Online games and learning programs also work well for some students. Xtramath.org is a dependable, worthwhile program that I’ve used for years. Check out this blog post: Xtramath.org – an excellent FREE Program for Your Math Class!
If you need some additional ideas for flashcard activities, check out this blog article for 10 different ideas, plus you can grab a free set of flashcards!
These engaging math games are perfect for mastering multiplication facts and turning ordinary math lessons into exciting learning adventures.
3. Give them something to lean on when they get stuck.
As students solve multi-digit multiplication problems, they often need reminders and visual cues because so many steps are required to solve them.
Anchor charts and posters serve as visual resources and references that help students answer many questions for themselves.
Reference posters and anchor charts (like the one above) can teach students to rely on themselves to solve problems and answer questions. This promotes independence and confidence.
Plus, the teacher has more time to support struggling students rather than answering the same questions over and over.
I used this 2-digit multiplication anchor chart (above) to review 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication when I was teaching. It follows the same visual cues as the multiplication organizers.
And the best part is that it’s reusable!
Notice the sticky notes. Change them out for different numbers each day for frequent practice! You can make the problems as basic or challenging as your class needs.
These posters and anchor charts are perfect for small groups and intervention, and I guarantee your students will all want to change out the numbers and create their own problems.
Quick directions for teaching multiplication
A few last words . . .
When teaching multi-digit multiplication, what works for some students might not work for others.
Stay open-minded and flexible about trying new ideas and strategies. Many students need repetition and to see the concepts presented in various ways several times before it finally clicks for them.
More Articles about Multi-Digit Multiplication:
2-Digit Multiplication Made Easier! – Here’s how to use the double-digit multiplication organizers and worksheets.
2-Digit Multiplication Worksheets: Differentiated – Here’s a visual method for teaching 2-digit multiplication using differentiated visual cues to guide students’ learning for success.
The Science of Math: A Better Way to Teach Long Multiplication – Learn the science of math and how to use it to teach multi-digit multiplication.
Interested in Long Division?
Differentiated Long Division Worksheets for FREE – Grab these differentiated long division worksheets for FREE and dramatically boost student success and your teaching success!
9 Top Tips for Teaching Long Division – This blog article covers nine tips for teaching the traditional long division standard algorithm. They’re practical, simple ideas for teachers and parents.
About the Author
Written by Jules Rhee, MEd, and a 30-year teaching veteran; published 10/5/2020; updated 7/11/2026.
Jules is the creator of Caffeine Queen Teacher (CQT) – Visual Math Organizers + Graph Paper Support. She’s a veteran teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience (SPED, upper elementary, and middle school) and a Master’s in Education (MEd). Jules shares practical, classroom-tested ideas and creates step-by-step resources that help students stay organized, confident, and successful – especially with multiplication and long division.
Read more about Jules here: About Page | Browse resources here: TpT Store
