Times tables chart

[panchopancho]

My daughter is in year 3 and is really struggling with her timestables. The class has a chart on the wall stating which children know which of their times tables. So, some will be on their 8 x table, others 9, etc. Once they answer can answer all the questions they are asked on a particular times table they get a tick. My daughter is way behind. She feels humiliated being asked in front of the class each week and by her position at the bottom of the chart. I'm not sure if I am alone in this, but this system seems archaic and cruel. I'd be interested in your views.

Ticks and charts are a great incentive for children where they work. However if your dd just can't grasp tables for some reason, you should go and talk to the teachers - explain that the current practice is upsetting her and explore an alternative way of helping her learn tables without making her feel bad. IME teachers are willing to explore ways of helping children who find the normal way of doing things inappropriate for whatever reason.

... though bear in mind even without a chart on the wall, the other children will have a good idea of who is doing well and who is not. My Y3 DS has no problem reeling off what child is on what table and he has no visible cue to go by.

The idea of 7, 8 and 9 timestables is probably overwhelming for your DD, but you should emphasise to her that she knows most of them already - ie 2x, 3x, 5x and 10x the respective numbers, with just a few missing to fill in. Work with her to show her how easy it can be and to not be frightened by numbers.

Teach her to do her 9s on her fingers. Google it if you need to. Once she understands it, she will learn the pattern and eventually not need her fingers.

Attractive times tables poster to stick up in your kitchen! Helped with my dd no end, and meant I didn't fill my kitchen with pictures of elephants or whatever..

proudcreative.com/shop/typetables

Thanks for all your feedback everyone. I now have some ideas to work on

Hi Panchoponcho:

My DD1's class (Y4 but also last year) doesn't have charts - but she's fully aware of who can and can't do their times tables. They also don't quiz children in front of each other - it's raise your hand if you know the answer - and sometimes green (got it), amber (sort of get it), red (don't get it) cards.

So although it isn't nice to see you're bottom of the chart - I suspect with or without the chart her classmates would know she's struggling.

I'm afraid with times tables the only solution is practice. We found both of these free downloadable video games very helpful ourselves:

Tux of Math Command: tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxmath/
It's like the old video game asteroids. You are a penguin and shoot away math problems by typing in the correct answer. You can review multiplication tables one by one - and it really gets the recall speed up.

Another good game that starts from where your child is is Timez Attack: www.bigbrainz.com/. The slimmed down free version (full versions have more platforms but seem pretty expensive, so we've never opted for that) has you chose to be a little monster a run through a dungeon or castle solving multiplication problems. It visually reinforces that multiplication is multiple additions and tests your child, so they start from where they're at. Every now and then an ogre pops out and quizzes you. It can be a bit stressful, but my DDs adore it and it really has helped improve their recall speed of multiplication facts. There also is a division (inverse multiplications) version as well - for the next step. DD1 (Y4) has just started it and likes it too.

HTH

Hi, is your daughter still struggling? Our company sell personalised times tables CDs, visit us at laughalongandlearn.co.uk and I will email you some songs for free
Regards

I typed up a game on my pc using a table and putting e.g. 5 x 9 in one box, then 45 in another, then 6 x 6 in another and 36 in another, then cut out all the boxes so that DD (yr 3) can match them up. Can be done in the form of "pelmanism" also...