children's memories!

[mellow3]

hey there,
i've never chatted on mumsnet before although i always have a browse...i'm just wondering if any one has tips on how to help my 10 year old memorise things like times tables? we practice all the time of course, however as soon as i stop using flash cards or whatever to prompt, things go pear shaped and i get really frustrated! i'm sure we'll get there eventually and i don't think i'm pressurising my child too much, but i do wish we could speed things up a bit! any tips out there?
thanks!

[Goldmandra]

You can buy times tables songs on CD which helped my DD to a point. It may help your son if he is the right sort of learner. Different strategies work on different children.

TBH neither has learned their tables properly despite lots of practise and serious bribery so I'll be watching this thread with interest.

[Rockchick1984]

I still remember mine from the cassette I had as a child, and I'm nearly 30 could probably still sing them with the right tune as well!

[mellow3]

hello! thank you so much, yes singing/songs is good! will keep trying...and like you say, they are all different bless them, but i'm always surprised by what i ASSUME my child will know/pick up easily (based on who they are), compared to what they DO know/pick up easily - but i love our never-ending journey of surprises i suppose :-) look forward to any more thoughts on this, thanks again

[Nancyclancy]

My primary teacher used to make the whole class say the times table loudly together. She used to always say 7 sixes are 56 exceptionally loudly and it's always stuck in my mind. Occasionally when I'm watching a quiz show or something and it come up it springs straight into my mind!
When I'm old, whatever I forget I know I will always remember my 7 times table!

[Nancyclancy]

Basically anything repetitive. Songs are a brilliant way, like when you learn the alphabet!

[happylizzy]

my friend was just telling me about this primary school memory competition - her daughter's school just signed up. supposed to be good, teaches memory skills. Here's a link juniormemorychampionship.com/parent.php

[Goldmandra]

WIBU to point out to Nancyclancy that 7 x 6 = 42

Sorry!

[HanSolo]

arf!

[Nancyclancy]

Ha! Ha! I'm losing it already. 7x8 is 56. I checked on my phone that time. I think it was a typing error

[Goldmandra]