Learning Times tables

[lechatnoir]

DS1 (Y1) is struggling with his times tables - he can recite 2,4,6 & 10,20,30 etc but if you ask him 2x8 or what are4 tens he has no idea. Has anyone got any fun or interesting ways I can try & help him learn & actually understand his times tables?
LCN

Hi:

If you DS likes video games I'd recommend either of these free games:

Timez Attack is a dungeon and dragons format. You can choose to be a little girl or boy monster and you work your way through a castle or dungeon solving multiplication sums. The activity is visual so you see with 4 x 5 - 4 squares of 5 blue dots. These turn into snails which you round up and then the snails turn into balls. You through the balls at the wall and it counts by 5 (so 5, 10, 15, 20) and then you see the problem again 4 x 5 and you type in the correct answer 20. Every now and then a giant ogre comes out to quiz you. The game tests the child to see where they are at and starts from there. You can pay for more elaborate versions, but it isn't necessary. Once multiplication is mastered you can move on to the division game (which is inverse of multiplication tables).

Link to Timez Attack here: www.bigbrainz.com/.

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Another really useful game that works through all sorts of aspects of maths is Tuxx of Math Command. Link here : tux4kids.alioth.debian.org/tuxmath/index.php

You can select the skill level and the specific problem you want to work on - there is a long menu (you have to scroll through to other options - it isn't just the first page) but you can work on individual times tables (listed as multiples of 3, 4, 5, etc...). It's based on the video game asteroids and basically sums come scrolling down the screen and you type in the correct answer to blow them away. If you get it wrong, you get other chances - so it isn't essential you know everything - but repeated playing does truly help build up speed.

HTH

I'm going through the same thing with my daughter. I've taken to trawling through one average website after another. In the end I've pieced together a system of printing out a grid and working with an abacus. My girl seems to be picking things up with the combination of writing, showing and saying the tables out loud.

I haven't found a website or app that resembles this system but it's so effective! I have a software background so I'm seriously considering creating an app for our iPad. My DC finds many of the apps with lots of action, graphics and back stories distracting.

Oh, I should add that I've provided an incentive too. Once mastered she gets to choose a new book (she's a bit of a bookworm).

I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

vincyclassroom.com/percy-parker-times-tables/

I swear I should be on commission, but I am not.

this CD - it is annoying, but playing it in the car on the 10 min journey to school got DS through times tables and the difference after we got it was so striking that his teacher asked him what his secret was and ended up recommending the CD to other parents .

If you have a iPad I can recommend the Squeebles TT app. My daughter is addicted to it and it is really working for her. There are also other Squeeble games including one for reverse Times Tables or Division. All are really good. We've just discovered them a few days ago and I seem to have lost my iPad! HMmmm

Should add they are also available for iPhone etc.

We found best thing for DD was repetition/chanting and doing it in order for a long time so first;
2x all the way to 12 in order not random, once she became confident then I started introducing random questions, also once you get to =24, reverse it so;
half of 24, half of 22 half of 20 all the way down to half of 2.
Spend time on 2x without moving onto 5x, 10x and 4x, and introduce new once when she is really confident with previous ones.
While you are practising 2x in order and randomly, keep going with counting in 5,10 and 4, but leave it at that for time being, hope this helps.
Carol Wonderman "timetables" ages 5 to 7 is very useful, but only for practice purposes and consolidation, once the child is confident with mental timetables
(2x, 5x, 10, 4x)

Thank you all - will be looking up some of the games/apps and trying out the techniques you suggest. Much appreciated
LCN

Have you tried using a visual tool to help? we use cuisenair rods (a bit old fashion) but it is very easy to explain what is a half, how many "ones" there are in "ten" and how many fours there are in eight. Another tool we are using at home is Numicons, which is similar in principle. It enables you to talk about multiplications in a way that is understood visually by children. It also very tactile, children can simply play with the shapes. A bit like lego. But you can explain what the numbers are and how they compare to each other. I understand the idea of a video game, but frankly, I think that for a child to actually understand what numbers mean and how they can split in half, multiply, etc, it will be much easier in the future for them to understand maths.

Another one that loves that x tables cd. DD actually sings the tunes to remember the tables, which is great. However, I find that although it is good for the 2, 4, 6, 8 method of learning, when you have to recall 2 x 8 she isn't so hot. W don't do specific learning for tables, but just play this in the car on the way to school, which is a 30 minute drive, she has just learnt her 3s without even realising it.

However, we have tried Timez Attack, which after a few attempts - being a bit fiddly to suss out, we now are on our way and the other day I asked her 2 x 8 and she shot the answer straight back (I was amazed), on asking how she knew it so quickly, she said from Timez Attack. The good thing about this, is that they keep repeating the same few sums you have already done (with help using the balls initially), so they sort of get automatic and then you move onto the next one. The feel of the game doesn't come across as too educational either!!!

Re. Timez Attack, does anyone know how you can go in and change the parameters to keep it easy?

Buy times tables posters/charts for the bathroom - including a 1-100 chart. Stick them on a wall or a shower. Visualising these regularly will offer the opportunity to eventually recognise patterns. It migt take a while - but familarity with the charts will bring dividends.