Times tables - the basics

[IamBitzyVonMuffling]

My DS in Y3 is really struggling with Maths this year. I think that the problem stems from the fact that he has never properly got to grips with times tables. He knows 2's and understands doubling but loses it after that. He can have a guess at them but mostly gets them wrong and he still doesn't get the theory I think. The class has now moved on to division and he's lost. Any advice for going right back to basics and helping him to get his head around it please?

If you are looking for some online tutorials for the basics, try the lessons from White Rose Maths, they are free and mimic explanations as they would be taught in class.

‘Memory owl’ is a unique way of learning times tables. My dyslexic dd was able to learns hers using it. The app is free.

Had a look at some if the resources suggested, I honestly never knew how much amazing free stuff is out there. The White Rose Maths looks fantastic. Thank you all for the brilliant advice x

Make a big emphasis on the fact he only needs to learn half! If he knows 2 x 6, he knows 6 x 2. Visuals help support this (arrays for example - Google if unsure)

Here is a link that shows how he only needs to know half. mathinyourfeet.blogspot.com/2012/03/is-it-cheating-to-use-multiplication.html?m=1

Add to that little hacks like the finger rule for 9s,

The pattern for the 8s, (0, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0, 8 6, 4, 2)

If he know 2 x 3, 2 x 4 etc then he already know some of his threes and fours.

Fives and tens are easier to remember. After that, its just the gaps in between.

Have you heard of times tables rockstars? A fun website that allows children to practice. It adjusts content based on where your own child's strengths lie.

My daughter was struggling in Y2 to learn her TT. We both decided and committed to learn them during the summer holidays before she went into Y3.

Most teachers would disagree with this method: however we started off with rote learning. Then I made her repeat the ones she got wrong ie 8x9, just saying it over and over again.

Then during the day I would spontaneously ask her to answer a times table question as we were out and about, shopping etc.

We also used times table rock stars and Jack Harmann on Youtube. He is so strange that you couldn't really forget him or what he was saying.

I love defenders of mathematica on bbc bitsize for practicing all sorts of KS2 maths

Recommend following five minute mum on Instagram who has lots of fun games to help with things like this.

Completely agree with strawberrie , nix and glera start with the stuff he knows, so his 2s and do the arrays, schools use whiteboards, draw 4 circles and put 2 dots in each circle so you have 4 lots of 2, count them all up you get 8 etc, work with that theory. Lego or coins are great for physically interacting and moving them around. In school we like to use Base 10 or tiddlywink counter style things, we find maths sinks in better if you use your hands. I am not a teacher, just a volunteer but love helping with maths.

Then everything else is by rote, they can learn songs so they know what words come next, times tables are the same. Lots of children spend time trying to solve the question ie 4 x 6 when if they learned it by rote they would know the answer. The quicker they can answer these questions the more questions they can get through and the higher the mark.