Every Tuesday morning Julie and I sit in my schoolroom while her daughter takes her piano lesson with Alannah upstairs.  She knits, we talk, the littles play.

Last week she brought me a set of her newly printed and packaged multiplication game. We don't have a lot of math games.  I wasn't sure how well this would go over either.  But after playing daily all week, and the kids' enthusiasm continuing to grow, I think she really is onto something. 

There is a video at her site which shows the game in action.  Basically you have a set of cards with the multiples 2-9 of a given "Speed" illustrated like strings of beads. (Actually it struck me much like the Montessori golden beads)  The cards truly would be painfully tedious to try to replicate on your own.  You play the game sort of like War, laying down cards which are one step above or below the card on the table.  So if a 9 is laid down you can play a 6 or a 12 for instance.  The first player to play all his cards wins. Check out the video for clearer instruction. 

The premise is that the child becomes very familiar with all the multiples through playing the fast paced game.  This really does work. The more you play, the more familiar you are.  The better you know those "steps" the better you play. 

 Julie worked as an engineer before becoming a homeschool mom to three children.  Those same creative problem solving skills necessary in her career field have served her well at home.  She came up with a really novel idea.  If you want to play at home you can pick up a set at Amazon.  You will be supporting a truly home-grown family business.