This is a series of letters written to parents of my fourth grade students explaining how to do the area model of multiplication. It is very detailed and uses pictures to model. The first letter explains how to find simple area and then how to use this model to find the answer to 1 x 1 digit, 1 x 2 digit, and 1 x 3 digit problems. The second letter further explains the process and then shows how to use this model to find the answer to 2 x 2 digit problems. This second letter also compares it