Times tables - which way round?

[SomethingOnce]

I think this has been done, but I can't find the thread.

Does anyone know which way round times tables are taught? The thread I'm thinking of suggested it's different in the US to the UK. I'm not American, it's just that it made me wonder.

So is it: 1x5, 2x5, 3x5, 4x5, 5x5

Or: 5x1, 5x2, 5x3, 5x4, 5x5

I realise the answers are the same, but I imagine the different approach might be confusing if you learnt one way at home and the other at school.

[Believeitornot]

The first one I thought?

But I would teach my kids that it is the same either way around. Also that "5 tens make 50" for example. So they know all ways of multiplication!

[OrangePeels]

1x5, 2x5, 3x5 etc but they are taught to recognise that 2x5 is the same as 5x2 once they have the hang of it!

It's done in jumps so 2x5 is 5+5
3x5 is 5+5+5
They learn to count in 5s first, then they move on to times.

[Artandco]

1x5, 2x5 etc

But also at the same time teach 5x1,5x2 so that helps with the 2/3/4/5/6/7 times tables later as they know them gradually

[user789653241]

Does it matter? I learned it other way round, but it's exactly the same isn't it?

[hels71]

My school does 5 x 1, 5 x 2 etc.... we use the Maths Make Sense programme and that is the way they start it.

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

5 x 0; 5 x 1; 5 x 2 etc here.

[catkind]

DS school use the formulation " five one time is five, five two times is ten", written 5x1=5, 5x2=10. Really don't like having to read the operation after when it's written in the middle, I don't get the logic at all.

[dementedpixie]

Scotland here and we do:
5 nothings are nothing
5 ones are 5
5 two's are 10,
Etc

[SomethingOnce]

Thanks all. Bit of a mix, then.

catkind, I've never heard it done like that. It does make sense to me - less abstract, perhaps - but you're right, they then have to remember where the operation goes.

It hadn't occurred to me that the nations of the U.K. might have different approaches. I should have specified 'in English schools'

I had dire primary maths teaching in the 80s and rote learning wasn't fashionable, but having tables down really speeds things up, doesn't it?

[WombatStewForTea]

I would also teach it as 5x1, 5x1 etc.
I teach it as repeated addition so 5x1 = 5+5+5
I teach it practically as in send a child to go and get a numicon 5 shape from a pile and bring it back then say oops sorry go and get me another one and then another one. They've then got a five, three times so 5x3. 3x5 would be 3+3+3+3+3 or a 3, 5 times.

[user789653241]

I think I was taught like Wombat.
As repeated addition. Isn't that easier to understand as a concept?

[OrangePeels]

The idea is that they start with repeated addition then learn it by rote naturally rather than being able to chant the times tables. Eventually, they should just know that 5x5=25 without thinking about it.
Every kid is different and some find it easier to see 5 lots of 5 beads and count them, some prefer to count out in 5s to 5 lots. It all equals the same.

[OrangePeels]

Wombat - 5x1 does not equal 5+5+5

[WombatStewForTea]

Flipping heck orange it was clearly a typo!
You can blame the auto correct on my phone.

[SomethingOnce]

I assumed it was gin

[MintChocAddict]

We're in Scotland and DS has poster of times tables. It says 'Scottish Method' at the top and follows the format (5X0, 5X1, 5X2 etc and that's also the way they're taught in school.

I've always noticed that any times tables books you can buy like the slide the tab answer ones always teach the opposite way so have never been any use to us. Presumed they teach the opposite way to us in England.

[Wizard19]

I have taught my DD to do use 4 rules, one of which is "Smaller number first".
So when asked 9 x 4, she switches it to 4 x 9 mentally.

It helps them learn the "Commutative Law" which says we can swap numbers round when multiplying and still get the same answer...

It also has the effect of halving the amount of answers they have to learn, so when they get to 8 times table,and are doing
8 x 3 thats 3 x 8
8 x 4 thats 4 x 8
so by the time they do 8 times table just need to learn 8 X ( 8, 9, 10,11,12)
As they have done all the others already.

[Feenie]

Please stop upping old threads to spam, curlykay. You're not allowed to advertise and there's no need - there are thousands of free games out there.

[LucyHow]

My daughter has just learnt her times tables through table fables too! The animations are really memorable and made it a really fun way to learn. Even now when I test her, she uses the table fable method.

[hankat12]

Daughter number two had trouble remembering her times tables (either way) We tried all sorts, but she's young for her age and was losing confidence in class. Table Fables and Squeebles were the best for her learning style.