Summarize the following:
If you want to double check your answer, try skip-counting and holding up 1 finger for each number. For instance, if your problem is 2x6, you can skip-count by 2s until you are holding up 6 fingers. You should be on the number 12 when you get to your sixth finger, which is the correct answer. ” You can use the multiplication problems you do know to figure out the ones you don’t. If you don’t know what 5x6 is, but you do know what 6x6 is, find the answer to 6x6 and then subtract 6. Any time the problem you’re working on is close to one you know the answer to, find the answer you know and then add or subtract to get the right answer. Hold your fingers out in the front of you and count on them from left to right until you get to the number you’re multiplying by 9 (for instance, if you’re multiplying 9 times 3, count 3 fingers). Bend that finger down. Now count the fingers that are up on the left side - that’s the first digit of your answer. Count the fingers that are up on the right side - that’s the second digit.

Summary:
Use your fingers to keep track when you multiply. Figure it out using “landmark numbers. Learn the 9s trick.