By the end of year 4 children should be well on the way to using the standard method of short multiplication. Earlier methods are aimed at developing understanding of what is happening, but can, on occasions, lead to confusion. It is important that children learn one standard method and keep to it. This is a traditional method of laying the digits out vertically so that the units lie under each other, as do the tens. The units are multiplied first with the units digit placed in the answer column. Tens are placed in the tens column, but below the answer row. Finally the tens are multiplied, not forgetting to add on any extra tens. Plenty of practice is needed with this, but it does make it much easier to follow the routine if 'times tables' are known really well. Go to Standard Method of Short Multiplication