Should Y4 children be learning times tables?

[purpleroses]

DD moved schools last year. Her old primary school tested them on their times tables each week, so she was gradually learning them all. Her new school doesn't seem to do this at all, and I've noticed she's now forgotten a lot of what she knew a year ago. They seem a long way behind in maths generally, which I'm going to ask the teacher about next week.

But just wondered what the norm is with times tables learning - is this something schools are supposed to do? Or is it eniterly up to the teachers?

DS in Yr5 is doing decimal point times tables now.

DD in yr 3 has done 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, and is tested each week.

DS2 in Yr1 is counting in 2s and 5s and 10s.

I work in school with yr2. One class is doing the full 2, 5,10 times tables and division facts, the other is just starting on them.

But from year 3 up they have weekly tests and challenges at the start of numeracy lessons.

We sing our tables and number bonds every morning Collision because as Kingscotestaff says automatic recall of basic facts allows the child to put their effort into the question rather than worry about working out the table.

OP - my Y4 DD wasn't doing a times tables test every week.

When I mentioned it to the numeracy co-ordinatir they suddenly started happening.

So, in my case, the teacher was meant to be doing them but this hadn't been communicated to him.......

Rapid recall of times tables facts is essential, and should be 'taught' throughout school. Not sure what 'decimal tables' are, would expect the teaching them to be about applying known rules rapidly, not more learning.

But at our school in Year 4 we would expect to see far fewer tests (certainly not as home learning) BUT speed tables grids; pupils given a short time to write down 1-12 and then tested with a variety of mental questions, including some inverse operations; or similar activities used as starters or lesson breakers. In Year 4 we would expect at least two such five minute activities a week, and a longer mental maths test.

It's like spelling tests. Spelling continues to be taught, but the formal learn and repeat tests as home learning fade away...

I would check whether they were not practising rapid recall of times tables by other means before I made any fuss. More than 2 x 0.5 ways to skin a cat and all that...

Thanks - yes I will ask what they do first, rather than go in making a fuss. Though the fact that DD knows much less than she did a year ago does kind of suggest whatever they are doing isn't working - for her at least.

Quizzed her about it a bit more today - she says they write out the whole times tables quite often - ie in order 1x6=6, 2x6=12, etc. DD can add up quickly enough so she is able to do this, but if you ask her what 3x8 is she doesn't know. She can work them out but doesn't know them read out out of order.

Indigo - that is interesting. If I don't get too far with the class teacher maybe I'll ask who the head of maths is.

Out of order is the key.

If you say 'Four times seven', she needs to be able to say 'Twenty-eight!', not 'er... seven, fourteen, twenty-one... twenty-eight!!!'

My boys in year 3 are expected to do 40 in 5 minutes of muddled in 2s,5s and 10s then 3s and 6s,then 4s and 8s(not sure what it'll be next presuming 7 and 9s etc).Seems to be working well.

They seem to have a quick recall and go up each week although not if they don't get 40 in 5 minutes.It seems to be the speed they're focusing on.

They only started sending them home a couple of weeks ago and they're romping through,I think they must have done a lot in class and are now focusing on speed as I've done nothing.