Learning to Multiply

I learned my "times tables" in 3rd grade. My teacher in 3rd grade was Wilma Lovelace. She was my favorite teacher from my elementary school years.

When Mrs. Lovelace introduced multiplication to us, she told us that we would have a class contest to memorize multiplication numbers for 1 to 12. We called these our "times tables."

Mrs. Lovelace created a large poster chart with each student's name down the left side. Then she placed the numbers 1 to 12 across the top of the chart to form columns. After we memorized the multiplication for one of the numbers, we could meet with Mrs. Lovelace and she would test us on our memory. If we passed that number, she would put a star on the chart by our name for that particular number.

She told us that the first person to memorize all 12 numbers would earn $1.00. The second person would earn $0.75. The third person would earn $0.50. The fourth finisher would earn $0.25.

I was excited and motivated. I had a really good memory. I already knew several of the numbers. So at the next recess, I passed off several numbers like 1, 2, 5, and 10. Then for the next few recess periods, I would take time to learn another number and pass it off to Mrs. Lovelace. Soon, I had most of the numbers passed off.

However, most of the students in the class had only passed off a couple of numbers.

So...........

I slowed down. Some of the numbers were harder (e.g., 7, 11, and 12).

THEN,

One morning at the beginning of class, Mrs. Lovelace called one of my classmates to the front of the class and handed her a $1 bill. My classmate had passed off five numbers the day before at the end of the class and earned the $1 first finisher prize.

I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED 😭

I did not go outside for the first recess that day. I memorized the remaining numbers and passed them off to Mrs. Lovelace. I earned $0.75 for a second-place finish.