Learning times tables

[squashpie]

Hello, I've seen loads of threads on here in the past about learning times tables. Always thought I should make notes for when the time comes but there were always more current educational things to be concerned about!

Now my turn has come! DS has been told to learn his 2x table over the half term, ideally with corresponding division facts. Any tips please anyone to make this easier/ more enjoyable/ less boring than it was for me in my youth !

[Euphemyknifeinyourback]

Find something fun your DS can use to count up in 2s, share out into 2 groups, etc. Something colourful like coloured art matchsticks, or bits of (dried!) pasta shells, etc.
So he could practise, for example, 2x4 by setting out two groups of four and counting how many altogether. Then conversely, for example set out eight objects and share them between you and himself and see how many you get each.
But nothing beats chanting the tables in terms of fixing them in your head!

[sarahfreck]

Using concrete materials as Euphemy has said is a good way of getting him to understand what is going on but again I agree that lots of practice is best for actually learning the facts.

I find boys like to be active while they practice the chanting. You could get a soft ball/toy and throw it between you while you take it in turns to say the next tables fact. Get him to recite while standing on one leg or whatever.

They also like timing themselves and race type games.
A good game once they are beginning to get the hang of a table is this:
Prepare a sheet with lots of x tables sums. You could put division ones in too. Make another copy of this. You and DS have a copy each. He starts writing answers as fast as he can whilst you keep throwing a die. As soon as you get a six, you yell "six" and he has to stop and start throwing the die while you start to write answers on your sheet. Once he throws a six you stop and he starts again while you throw the die. Keep going like this until the first person has finished the sheet. Then mark the answers. The person with most right answers wins (not necessarily the first finisher). Gets them to practice being fast and accurate and is great because you can manipulate things (ignore a few of your 6 throws if you think he needs more time - he'll never know cos he'll be so focused on his answers) so that it is a close finish!

[OnionBhaji]

Just chant it.

Get him to time himself and beat his own time

[WriterofDreams]

Chant chant chant

Then chant some more


Then count in twos

Then chant again

Please.

I have yr6 kids that can't tell you what 3x2 is/

[emkana]

Does he have a Nintendo DS?

My dd has been making excellent progress with her times tables by playing Professor Kageyama's Maths Training

[IloveJudgeJudy]

I would definitely say chant it. When my oldest DS was in primary it was out of fashion to chant, but we did it at home (under protest from him as it wasn't what they did at school). When my other two DC were in primary, chanting came back into fashion. We used to chant over the dinner table. You could do the ball throwing thing after he's learnt it by chanting. It really is the best way of getting the numbers to stick IME.