Tables

[maggiebee]

Following the family's move to Dundee I offered to help my 10 year old grandaughter with her maths homework. Absolutely appalled that she does not seem to know any times tables. Are these not taught in schools any more? Sure I knew up to my 12 times table by the time I reached primary 6. Any comments?

[rockyracoon]

We were taught by rote when we were younger, they're not now, more or less left to do it them selves.

[Slapshot]

No it appears not and not for a long time either Maggiebee, my 21yo daughter learned her tables at home. I remember having them hammered into me in primary 3 and 4, recited by the class unless some psychopath teacher singled someone out!! we all got burned in the end!

[murraymints]

same as Slappy ..up to 12 ties tabl p3 and 4..forward AND backwards !

[stuey]

It would not surprise me in the least, maggiebee, if the majority of teachers would stare at you blankly if you mentioned "times tables" to them.

[Prudie]

I don't think so much value is given to them these days and I expect some of our younger ABers will say they don't need them either. I knew all mine by 7 but I did have a penchant for them - and yes they were drummed into us parrot fashion.

[Slapshot]

Problem is now though youngsters coming into the workplace can't count, calculators and PC's cover their needs until they break down!!

[rockyracoon]

My daughter is in the top set of maths and is much slower at recalling the times tables when doing homework. I suspect it will cause her a bit of concern during exams if she's running a bit behind

[Mosaic]

We recited the Our father, Hail mary, all our times tables up to 12 times, and then the 12-inches-one-foot-three-feet-one-mile-one-thousand etc etc right up to 'ten chains one furlong, 8 furlongs one mile'

while the teacher did the dinner money and other stuff

So it was very handy later on in life but I still have to run very quickly through from hallowed be thy name to get 9 sixes.

[gness]

I used to say my times tables walking to and from school and I still do it now....walking...not going to school.....

I taught them to my kids at school as part of fun lessons....can't recall whether I should have done or not...

Do you know the easy nine times with fingers, Maggie?

[boxtops]

...and "Five and a half yards, one Rod Pole or Perch" mosaic!

[RATTER15]

Surely a job for the parents, We taught ours as soon as they were able to grasp it.

[Bazile]

// Sure I knew up to my 12 times table by the time I reached primary 6. Any comments? //

maggiebee - i too could recite up to my 12 times table by about that gae as well .

It always amused me whenever i went to the local chippy and bought several items and i totalled up the costs in my head ; much to the suprise of the lady serving me

[RATTER15]

Sometimes I think parents forget that they are also responsible for their child's education, not just school.

[cupid04]

Think we had times tables and spelling tests regularly. Used to learn them for homework too.

[maggiebee]

Funnily enough Gness, grandaughter knows 9 times table when written down as I taught her "magic nines" a couple of years ago. Well, I've typed up all the tables starting at 3 up to 12 and we will do them together every night. Learning by rote or not, I think it is important, but will try to make it fun.

[wolf63]

So - I seem to be the odd one out, I can remember very little of my tables.

I used to calculate payments of welfare benefits on my fingers. My pal (who still works for DWP) has counting skills that are worse than mine.

☺

[maggiebee]

Now that I'm on a roll, whatever happened to mental arithmetic and spelling?

[stuey]

I could never fathom the name of the unit equal to six feet.

[gness]

Great, Maggie.....9x is very difficult for some kids.....the ones I had were mostly children with special needs and suddenly "seeing" the 9x was wonderful and helped them not to be put off...x

[rockyracoon]

Maggie, my kids did spellings and still do (well the 14 year old does)