Times Table - new government testing

[Blythe13]

My son is hopeless at times tables, he just can't remember them and I'm worried about the new government testing. Any good advice as it's making him feel really stupid and he's not.

[user789653241]

Practice. Posters on the wall. CD in the car.

www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

[Arkadia]

Second that ;)
Practice 10-15 mins EVERY SINGLE DAY, Saturdays and Sundays included.
No ifs, no buts, no excuses ;)

[Feenie]

Times Tables Rockstars has transformed our children's attitude towards learning times tables:

ttrockstars.com/login

[BrendansDanceShoes]

Practice practice practice. They get there eventually. It's vital as an underpinning for most maths going forward. Children have to learn that to be good at most things requires time, effort and practice, a good lesson for life

[TheCunkOfPhilomena]

DS' school give out wristbands to each child to show which one they're working on. Any teacher can ask them one at any time and they're meant to answer in 3 seconds (sounds more pressured than it is, it's actually quite a fun thing!). Once they've mastered that band they get a new one, once they know all of them up to and including the 12 times table, they get a special badge as a reward.

Would they help your DS?

[junebirthdaygirl]

Its practically impissible for a child with dyslexia to remember times tables off by heart. Not in the UK so l presume that is being taken into account in that test. My dh has all the symptoms of dyslexia and has never mastered tables in spite of them being literally beaten in to him in the olden days. He has a very good degree in a medical field and lots of post grad training. Its not mandantory to know tables.

[jelliebelly]

Another vote for times tables rockstars here - it’s got my very reluctant dd keen to see if she can keep beating her score and practising without realising

[Alyosha]

I have dyslexia and as a result was never pushed to learn times tables, which is actually really annoying - they are definitely some of the most useful practical maths skills.

I think it's about realising it's memorisation, so learning by heart, speed tests on random questions, quizzing him all the time...

In fact I might buy myself a login to TT rockstars and be their oldest player!

[daffodildelight]

Squeebles app

[Feenie]

Its not mandantory to know tables.

It is, and always has been, under the National Curriculum.

[BrendansDanceShoes]

junebrthdaygirl My oldest has mild dyslexia and did manage his times tables at primary, after a lot of practice. It's so vital for moving on in maths and making it 'easier', seeing patterns in numbers for example. Methods used at school didnt always work for him, nor did the chart on the bedroom wall.Dyslexics just need to find other methods of learning. But for any method you use, for any skill, you need to practice, just like tying shoelaces, remembering dance routines, learning breaststroke and so on. As seen from your son's example, dyslexics are very good at finding other ways to achieve lots in life.

[megletthesecond]

Math Workout free app.

There's a times table practice option. Mine usually like fancy stuff but despite this being simple they really enjoy it, mainly trying to beat their previous time.

[brilliotic]

I agree that lots of practice is usually the way forward.

However OP you say 'he just can't remember them' so am I right in assuming that you have tried that approach? Have done lots of (daily) practice, perhaps using various kinds of resources, but it just doesn't stick?

If that is the case, perhaps you need to switch to 'smart practice' rather than 'lots of practice'.

But if you haven't tried 'lots of practice' yet, then I'd give that a go first... :)

[Feenie]

Just checked my 3 dyslexic Y6 pupils’ average times table question speeds on TT Rockstars - 3.6s, 4.2s and 4.3 S. The Y4 times tables test will allow 5 seconds (it’s online).

The children in any school that uses Times Tables Rockstars will laugh at that kind of time frame.

[caroldecker]

They are v valuable and you should help your child. However the tests are testing the school, not the child. No school tests except GCSE and A level (or equivalents) affect your child's long-term interests.

[Feenie]

I would have said the same up until the point where the DfE started setting pupil targets from KS2 SAT scores.

[Greenyogagirl]

This is why I home educate! I suppose just repeating and memorising if possible? However I’m 30 and still don’t know them!

[Cavender]

Its practically impossible for a child with dyslexia to remember times tables off by heart

My very dyslexic child has learned their times tables all the way up to twelve. It was very hard work and involved lots and lots of practice, repetition and working out short cuts.

Difficult not impossible.

A knowledge of times tables is important for lots of maths.

[Pratchet]

Children should start really young, before they even know what they mean. They copy, chant, sing etc. By the time they get arithmetic, they realise what they're for and know them if by heart.

[junebirthdaygirl]

I said about dyslexia and tables because l really think its dreadful to put a child with dyslexia through a times tables government test as the stress will cause them to freeze. Obviously if they are a child that has no difficulties with tables fine but not someone it finds it so difficult after much effort.Any children l have worked with that found tables diffiicult have discovered their own way of working it out but not off by heart.
When l said mandatory l meant for life . I'm sure every child leaving school does not know everything laid down by your National Curriculum. Otherwise ye would top all the tables for learning throughout Europe.

[Mamimawr]

My eldest has dyslexia and dyscalculia. Times tables are a nightmare. We've spent hours and hours trying. We used squeebles at home and school use TT rockstars. She will leave primary school only knowing tables 2, 3, 5 and 10. BUT she has worked harder than any of her friends. So glad we're not in England so these tests won't apply to us.

[duckling84]

I'm dyslexic!
I also have a maths degree. Do I know my times tables off by heart? No not all of them. I have to calculate them every single time. I can do it very quickly so no one notices. Definitely agree that practice helps.
I still have to work out which is my left and right when anyone asks and I still add up using my fingers.
Dyslexics just need to think outside the box and learn to disguise their difficulties.

And just remember the times table test, like the year one phonics test and the yr 6 sats is not testing the child - it's assessing the teacher

[Feenie]

That old chestnut! Yes, they are assessing me. But the targets for each individual child will be set for the next school to help the child reach. It won’t be anything to do with me.

Likewise, my Y7 child’s targets are set from his Y6 SATS from last year and will stay with him for the next 5 years - they’re nothing to do with his school now.

[caroldecker]

Feenie But outside school life and in the future, children's targets and how they perform against them are irrelevant. They are designed to asses teaching performance.

[Feenie]

But outside school life

My ds is at school for the next 7 years. It's not the be all and end all, but it's a significant part of his life.

My class's results are not attached to me for the next five years.