A parents' guide to learning times tables
Learning the times tables is a rite of passage for school children - a kind of club membership that transforms their confidence once they join.
Tables seem easy when you've learned them, but the prospect of having to learn them drives fear into children - and this in turn has a negative effect on learning.
And then there's "learning" and "mastering" - how well should they know them? In this article, I'm going to look into learning times tables and provide some useful tips on how parents can help at home.
This diagram shows the 144 times tables multiplication facts that every child needs commit to memory.
Think of them like a daunting climbing wall - when you're a first-timer standing at the foot looking up it's scary - but once you start making a few hand and foot holds it gets much easier.
One secret is choosing the right route - we'll deal with that later but first let's consider what we mean by "commit to memory" and "mastering."
It's tempting to think that being able to answer the times tables and mastering them is the same thing. Unfortunately, they aren't.
Children need to be able to recall any times tables answer within two or three seconds - preferably in one second. That leaves no time for counting the way up to the answer from 2x, 3x, 4x etc - the answer has to pop out of memory pretty much instantly.
It sounds harsh but this level of "number fluency" is the ideal foundation for any child - so how do we get there?
What order should we learn times tables in?
We, of course, start with the easy tables first - the Easy Times Tables are the 10x, 2x and 5x times tables.
The 10x tables are a natural part of counting, the two times tables are familiar because of doubling, even numbers and they simply chant so well 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate. . . The 5x tables are helped by knowing the 10x tables and the fact that we have 5 fingers.
There's some debate as to which are easiest from here but the 4x, 9x are usually next. The 4x tables are double the 2x tables and the 9x tables have a few shortcuts to help you learn them. After this you could the 3x tables followed by the 6x tables. Then the 8x tables and the 7x tables - which are generally regarded as difficult.
The UK National curriculum has recently re-included the 11 and 12 multiplication tables many schools do them anyway - I think these should be learned last and separately - even though the 11s are a doddle!
Language and times tables
There are many different ways to say the tables and they're all correct - but it helps if you're consistent and if you adopt the language your child already uses at school. For example we have:
- three times eight is . . .
- three multiplied by
- three eights are . .
- three lots of four are . .
So just be aware that what makes sense to you might confuse your child.
What are the methods for learning tables?
- Stick to one times table at a time to minimise confusion
- Start with chanting and writing them out slowly in order
- Then move on to completing the answers quickly in order - on paper or verbally with your child
- Finally, move on to completing the answers in any order
- Keep reminding your child that 3 x 4 is the same as 4 x 3 - this effectively halves the number of tables facts
- Each times table has a square number 3x3, 7x7 etc ( see the coloured numbers in the tables grid above ). These are special "hand or foot holds" that can act as memory hooks - emphasize them!
- Talk about the numbers are you encounter them "5 x 8 = 40 that's mummy's age" , "3 x 6 = 18 that's our house number" . . . this makes more memory hooks
- When you're trying to speed up recalling tables introduce some games. Next week I'll suggest some fun games that you can play at home or in the car.
What are the tips and tricks for learning each times table
- The 2s, 4s and 8 times tables are doubles of each other - with many common answers - 2x8=16, 4x4=16, 8x2 = 16
- The nine times tables can use the ten times tables and work back or compensate - so for 5 x 9, think ( 5 x 10 ) - 5 = 50 - 5 = 45, also note that the digits in the answer always add to 9. There's also a finger method which I'm not a big fan of.
- The 3 and 6 times table are tricky. Do the 3s first then the 6s - expect these to be more difficult and make an allowance in time
- The 7 times tables are hard but if you've done the other tables first you'll find you've encountered most of the 7s already elsewhere - such as 7x4=28, 7x3=21
- 7x8=56 is the hardest times table! - but tell this to your child and make a big deal about it and they'll never forget it!
Mastering the times tables
You can know all the times tables without really going on to master them. So once your child has learned the times tables individually the next stage involves practising recalling them quickly in any random order.
The practice can be verbal or written but either way you're looking for accurate answers in within 3 seconds. Mastering arithmetic is what Komodo is all about - it provides the an effective and rewarding way to help your child master numeracy or arithmetic at home.
It makes sense to take stock of where your child is with tables before trying to help them. To do this we've developed a unique new tables quiz that identifies exactly where to start.
Take the Free Kickstart Tables Quiz
in 10 minutes you'll have a times tables progress report
Kickstart not only identifies which tables your child knows but it will also guide you in which are truly mastered.
I'm Ged, Co-founder of Komodo, ex-maths teacher and dad. If you have any questions please get in touch.
About Komodo - Komodo is a fun and effective way to boost primary maths skills. Designed for 4 to 11 year olds to use in the home, Komodo uses a little and often approach to learning maths (20 minutes, 3 to 5 times per week) that fits into the busy routine. Komodo users develop fluency and confidence in maths - without keeping them at the screen for long.
And now we've got Komodo English too - check it out here.
