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Learning Times Tables - A Parents Guide

17 November 2020

Learning Times Tables

Times tables are a key part of the Maths curriculum, children who know their multiplication up to 12x12 will inevitably find many areas in Maths much easier. Division, fractions, percentages, ratios and proportion are just a few areas of the Maths curriculum that require you to know your times tables.


Similar to reading, parents are often asked to assist their children at home with learning their times tables. We know that is easier said than done, so we have written a guide to give some ideas to support parents in effectively helping their child to learn their times tables.


General Expectations

It is important to understand clearly the expectations within the National Curriculum from Year 2 upwards. All children learn differently and at different speeds, so note that this may not be the same for every child. 

Year 1 – Count in multiples of twos, fives and tens


Year 2 – Recall and use multiplication and division facts for 2, 5 and 10 times tables


Year 3 – Recall and use multiplication and division facts for 3, 4 and 8 times tables


Year 4 – Recall and use multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12


When children first begin to learn a new times table it is important to give them the opportunity to explore and build knowledge themselves. Allowing children the time to find their own way of learning the times table means they are more likely to remember how to work them out in the future. Practising and rehearsing times tables in a number of different ways is important before moving on to memory and retrieval. 

Learning a new Times Table 

Easy to Hard

We will use 4 times tables for this example…

First recognise the times tables that are ‘easier’ and focus on these. For 4 times tables, this would be ‘1x4, 2x4, 3x4, 5x4 and 10x4’. 


Most children will already know 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x if they are learning their 4 times tables. Focus on these first to boost their confidence. Repeat these until they know them without hesitation. 


Gradually add in the ‘harder’ ones in sections. Start with ‘4x4, 6x4, 7x4’, practise those for a while before adding in ‘8x4, 9x4, 11x4 and 12x4’. 


Repeated Addition 

We will use 3 times tables for this example…

This is a common method for children to use if they are working out times tables themselves. 


This involves looking at them as ‘groups’. This can be done by drawing groups on paper, using physical objects such as counters or by simply counting on. In my example below, I am using jelly beans!

We start with the first group of 3 numbers ‘1, 2, 3’ and then build upon this by adding 3 each time. 


This helps children to link multiplication to repeated addition such as ‘4x3 is 3+3+3+3 and both make 12’. 


Tip: We use ‘shout count’ as a way of encouraging children to begin to recognise which numbers are the important ones when counting up. They will begin by whispering ‘1,2..’ then shout ‘3!’ and continue with whispering ‘4,5…’ and then shouting ‘6!’. This is a fun way for children to recognise the pattern in the 3 times tables. 


Next we come on to rehearsing and practising times tables. Below you will find our tried and tested methods to do this. 

Practising and Rehearsing 

Flashcards

Flashcards are great for learning just about anything. This involves a card with the question on one side and answer on the back. 


It is important to build memory by starting at 1x by saying the question before turning over the card and then saying the answer. Continue with this in order up to 12x. The next step is to do the same activity but shuffle the cards so they are not in order. Repeated rehearsal will strengthen children’s memory to ensure they know them confidently before moving to out of order. 


Games with the cards is the fun part for most children. Below we have outlined a few games that you could play with your cards…

- Shuffle and spread out the cards on the table with the questions face up. See how quickly the children can put them into order. 

- Shuffle and spread out the cards on the table with the answers face up. See how quickly children can put them into order. 

- Shuffle the cards and put them in a pile with the questions face up. Pick one card at a time and give the answer to the question. 

- Shuffle the cards and put them in a pile with the answers face up. Pick one card at a time and give the question that would match the answer. 


It is important to make sure you understand how children are feeling and making sure they are not getting too overwhelmed. It is not a race to learn times tables so break it down into small, manageable chunks with a little bit each day until they feel confident. 

Ask questions such as:

- Which questions are you finding difficult to remember?

- Which questions do you think you already remember really well?

- How shall we try and remember them?

- How can we use facts we already know to answer hard questions?


Recommendation: Times tables flashcards are just £7.99, once you have purchased these there are lots of ways to utilise them.


https://usborne.com/gb/times-tables-flash-cards-9781474937672?organiserCode=9bacdc6e5d761674d50d6b57fd6b7b16


Once you feel a times table is known confidently, keep the cards to use in 2-3 weeks to revise the times table to keep them fresh in their memory. 
Application
The last part of learning a times table is application into worded questions, everyday life, Maths lessons and more.  

This can be done by asking questions throughout everyday life at home, such as ‘I am going to buy 3 packs of oranges and there are 5 oranges in a pack, how many oranges will I buy altogether?’

Maths games online are a great way of applying knowledge to practise recall. We love to use games whenever we can in our lessons, so I have included some useful links to educational and fun times tables games online… the best part is, they’re free!

If you have any questions, we would love to hear from you!

Happy Times Table Learning! 

Useful Links…
Times Tables Diploma - https://www.timestables.co.uk/
Enquire about Times Tables Lessons

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Revision

4 May 2022
The exam period can be an unsettling time, the stress mounts up and the nerves become real. Here we will look at tips to settle nerves, ways to remember information and the best ways to get the most out of your revision sessions. Stress affects us all in different ways, some important things to do in order to keep yourself calm around exam time is; ● Ensure you get a sufficient night’s sleep ● Eat healthily ● Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, breathing and calming exercises ● Follow a good revision plan It is recommended that students do 15- 20 hours of revision per week which is 3-5 hours per day with weekends off. When revising, it’s important to break topics down into bite size chunks and set manageable goals. Keep your mind focused and remove any distractions. Different revision methods suit different students. Take a look at some examples of ways to revise for your exams. Learning/Revision Techniques Map It – Create a mind map of the key points. Journey It – Remember lists of information by placing images on a journey. Index It – Transfer the key points to index cards. Story It – Create a weird and vivid story using the key points. Mnemonic It – Use the first letter of key words to create a sentence. Click It – Create a presentation about the key points. Timeline It – Place key points along a line in date order. Sing It – Set key points to some familiar music. Record It – Record yourself explaining the key points and play it back regularly. Post It – Write key words on Post It notes and stick them around your room. Comic It – Create your own comic strip using the key points. Once you have decided on which revision technique best suits you, draw up a timetable and allocate set times to each subject so you know exactly what you are doing and when. This is a valuable tool which will help you stay on track with your revision. We have created a One Future downloadable revision timetable for you to try out! Before you begin your revision, here are some final important points to remember: • Use your revision planner as a guide • Set an alarm and start early • Find a nice quiet space to revise in • Be ready and prepared to revise • Limit distractions (remove phones, turn off televisions) • Revise, Repeat, Remember • Prioritise your time • Set a target for the day • Use a variety of revision methods (mind maps, post it notes, rhymes) • Question the Question (Why, what, how, when) Remember the more effort you put into your revision the more you will get out of it. Stay Positive and try your best. Good Luck! Useful Websites: www.passgcsescience.com unimitsubishipencil www.innerdrive.co.uk The life skills company Routledge Taylor and Francis group ScarboroughTec.ac.uk Biglifejournal.com Revision Timetable - download here

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by Learn Fresh • 16 October 2021
Supporting your child’s mindset is extremely important. Children experience feelings just the same as adults, they have feelings of frustration, excitement, nervousness, sadness, jealousy, fear, worry, anger, embarrassment and many more. The past year has had a huge impact on many people’s mental health, making some increasingly more anxious. Looking after your child's mental health There are a number of ways to look after your child's mental health. Below are 6 important steps that will help you to do this. ● Start conversation early and be open ● Watch for changes in behaviour ● Try doing things to encourage conversation ● Lead by example ● Promote healthy screen time habits ● Consult an expert if you need to Children love routine and structure so whilst it is important that we look after their fragile minds, it is also important that we remember to recognise and reward good behaviour as well as recognising and disciplining poor behaviour.

Reading - Parents Guide

by Learn Fresh • 16 September 2021
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