Hi batters,
Your DD will probably have been learning her 2x, 5x and 10x tables in Y2. If she is ok with these then great. If not, concentrate on these. Explain 'times' as 'lots of'. Draw pics to help so for 2x7 draw two baskets with 7 balls in each etc. Also link this to addition and show it as a repeated addition i.e 7+7 (1 lot of 7 added to another lot of 7)
When doing 10x, don'f fall into trap of saying, add a 0. This causes probs when they start doing decimals and wonder why 38.50 is not ten times 38.5 Teach as digits moving one place to the left and the 0 being a place holder.
If she is ok with 2,5 and 10x then start with 4x not 3x. I always do this as they can use their knowledge of 2x to see the relationship. Explain that 4x is double the amount of 2x so therefore the answer should also be double. Show her this using pictures or beter still, beads and baskets. Again, constantly link back to 'lots of' and repeated addition. Having this clear in their mind helps them understand that like addition, the order of the numbers don't matter. Practise turning it around with pictures and beads again.
In my class we learn the 8x before the 3x using the same relationship but her teacher may not be happy with this. After this we do 3x, 6x and 12x.
When we first start, in the autumn term, I don't limit tables to mental maths. I structure it into the lesson where they write 4x3 in their books. Above the 'x' they write lots of and then they draw the calculation using baskets.
Almost all the kids leave Y3 with a secure knowledge of their tables. The important thing is that it doesn't matter if they get the answer wrong occass. as long as they understand what it means and have a method for working out the answer. Too many kids know their tables by rote without having any idea what they mean.
Sorry if this is long. Hope it helps!