Embedding times tables

[TimesTablesConumdrum]

DD, age 8, year 4, state school.

She passed her year 3 tables but doesn’t seem to know them despite this. Even easy ones.

We’re struggling to embed her times tables. How do others do it? Currently we have a small white board and write out various tables each night for her to complete the next day.

School has times table rock stars but I find she just messes about on this so we don’t do it often. We have an old fashioned book with them written out but she refuses to recite them parrot style.

She says she enjoys maths generally but I want to get on top of this. Thank you for suggestions.

I bought my daughters a times tables poppet, and honestly, it's been so much better than timestables rockstars!

LOADS of tips out there.

In my tutoring experience, what you need to do is work out how your child best memorises things. Some people like music, some people like "working" with them, and other people just need to learn it in the most boring and uninspiring way possible - rote.

Don't be afraid of rote learning!

Also, if they're competitive, try this.

I had a pupil who loved Taylor Swift, and I discovered on YouTube loads of times tables songs set to TS songs! This worked really well for this child.
I’m sure there’s lots of other songs on YouTube if your DD isn’t a Swiftie.

I'm in the same boat. We've been using ttrs as set by school. But I feel like too many are muddled in now and the instant recall has gone. I am thinking I'll go back to basics and help him learn each one in turn. Eg doing only 4s for a week or so, using ttrs, hit the button, making up games, I'll see if I can find songs etc

I wanted to post an update to my comment above because we seem to have found something that is really helping my DD. I don't know if someone mentioned them on this thread, or whether they were marketed to me on Insta (!), but FunKey Maths cards really appeal to her and there are games etc that have made it something she actively asks to do. I promise I do not work for FunKey Maths! Worth a shout if you're casting around for solutions.

@Tintarellai like the look of those cards so have ordered them. I find screens are not always helpful so something physical may be better. Thank you.

Oh @TimesTablesConumdrum I hope they go down well with your DC. I have to credit my DP for getting the right vibe with our reluctant times tablist: he watched a couple of the games you can do with them on their website and they've been doing them together- at her request- she seems to find it fun and I cannot tell you how different that is from how she feels about TTRockstars etc

ZapTables for sure. Great engagement for the kid, but no mucking around like you mention

I thought I’d post an update to this for anyone in the same boat. Timely as the TT check is this week. Hopefully I won’t jinx it!

She does seem a lot better at her tables now. Persistence was key, both from us and from the school (they take those struggling out each day to practice). I have made her do TTRS a bit more because she needed to be quicker but I think the combination of the games, the white board old fashioned method and simply time and practice helped.

So don’t give up hope if your child is struggling!

I see you are using tt rockstars which is great, but sure is also a game called “hit the button” that is free to use. Google will find it. It is on an educational games site called Topmarks. The games include both hit the question and hit the answer, so it effectively practices multiplication and division. It also has square, doubles, halves and other skills see here

Thank you. We know about hit the button and we use that as well. I find it better actually as it’s less gimmicky.