Quizzes & Puzzles0 min ago
how to learn times tables
21 Answers
my 8 year old is really struggling with learning her times tables.
Does anyone have a good way of learning them
We are both getting exasperated which isn't helping!
Does anyone have a good way of learning them
We are both getting exasperated which isn't helping!
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by crisgal. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Been a few years and I can't remember but always found the bbc site helpful for different ways of getting kids to learn:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...lication/timestables/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...lication/timestables/
I remember that when I was in primary school and about that age (@1962), we used to learn them parrot fashion. If we were changing into our plimsolls for PT, the master used to pick us out at random and shout "Marilyn - 5 times table" "David - 8 times table" and so on and we'd have to recite them. I used to dread getting the 7 times table because I found it the hardest. But that method DEFINITELY works. You could even try singing them. I think that the old fashioned methods of teaching were actually the best.
Always put the smaller number first.
Our brains are accustomed to thinking in a progressive linear fashion ...
... ie. we find it easier to remember numbers from smallest to biggest.
So ...
Six Eights are Forty Eight
is easier than
Eight Sixes are Forty Eight
The only exceptions to this rule are when the last number of the sum is also the last number of the answer.
So it's easy to remember that ...
Six Fours are Twenty Four
Seven Fives are Thirty Five.
But apart from that, if you get the highest number first ... reverse them.
Nine Sevens is difficult.
Seven Nines are Sixty Three ... easy!
Nine Fours is difficult.
Four Nines are Thirty Six ... Easy!
Our brains are accustomed to thinking in a progressive linear fashion ...
... ie. we find it easier to remember numbers from smallest to biggest.
So ...
Six Eights are Forty Eight
is easier than
Eight Sixes are Forty Eight
The only exceptions to this rule are when the last number of the sum is also the last number of the answer.
So it's easy to remember that ...
Six Fours are Twenty Four
Seven Fives are Thirty Five.
But apart from that, if you get the highest number first ... reverse them.
Nine Sevens is difficult.
Seven Nines are Sixty Three ... easy!
Nine Fours is difficult.
Four Nines are Thirty Six ... Easy!
hmm, i'm not sure i agree with you on that last point JJ!
I know that putting the smaller number first works, but as for nine times something, i find that very easy as it's just ten times, minus the number. If you know what i mean.
It's really difficult, because what worked for me, really doesn't seem to be helping her.
It's funny isn't it, though, how you never ever forget the way you were taught!
I will remember forever: Susan Wolfenden, stood on her desk saying "six sixes are thirty six" thirty six times!
But it made me remember it!
I know that putting the smaller number first works, but as for nine times something, i find that very easy as it's just ten times, minus the number. If you know what i mean.
It's really difficult, because what worked for me, really doesn't seem to be helping her.
It's funny isn't it, though, how you never ever forget the way you were taught!
I will remember forever: Susan Wolfenden, stood on her desk saying "six sixes are thirty six" thirty six times!
But it made me remember it!
http://www.tablesdisco.com/
this is the sort of thing - our cassette had a disco style tempo - not boring like nursery rhyme tunes.
this is the sort of thing - our cassette had a disco style tempo - not boring like nursery rhyme tunes.
-- answer removed --
Tables were learnt from 1 to 12 because of the need to calculate money in pre-decimal days. Eddie 51 is spot on - they are the foundation for all mental arithmetic. Some would argue that the inventions of calculators has made this redundant but I would disagree. Who has never pressed the wrong button on a calculator by mistake. Unless you have some mental notion of approximately what your answer should be you are working in the dark. I wonder how many shop workers today would have coped fifty years ago before tills had calculating facilities.
Hi Crisgal, I think parrot fashion is pretty much the standard way. My kids are 13, 9 and 6 and having got through 2 of them my youngest will start times table soon. I bought one of those bright posters with all the times tables on and put it in the eldest's bedroom, then moved it into the middle one's and now the youngest one is about to have it on his wall. I think if you see something everyday it slowly sinks in. My middle one also had a cube like this one which opens out and folds back in on itself again.
http://www.amazon.co..../ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_2
Hope this helps x
http://www.amazon.co..../ref=pd_cp_k_h_b_cs_2
Hope this helps x