Pupils To Sit Times Tables Check From 2019

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39053483

Am I to understand, from this astonishing news, that children are NOT tested on their times tables now ?

[Jackdaw33]

Quite, FF. Calculators are not the solution, merely an aid. Press a wrong key and you're up the creek.

[sherrardk]

Personally, I don't blame the schools - the goal posts have been moved and the focus has shifted. There isn't time for them to do tables. Since last year, pupils in year 4 (for example) are expected to cover what would have been year 5 work, etc.

[Togo]

To right as well Mikey we all need to know how much Werthers Originals are @ 23p for 3 and we want to calculate how much for 3 dozen.

[Peter Pedant]

No they dont chant their tables as we did

evg classes - only the over fifties can do 'fundamental arithmetic' - I said we didnt have calculators - only slide rules and log books but you dont know what they are - do you ?

and most said 'no'

[Peter Pedant]

togo £2.76 ?

23 for 3 is 25-2 for 3 or 100-8 for a dozen ( 92p)
and so for three doz it is 3 quid and take off 3x8

which I think is 2.76

[Jackdaw33]

We were not allowed slide rules and I wouldn't know how to use one. Only boys in 6th Form Science were allowed them. We did have log books, complete with anti-logs and square root tables.

[fiction-factory]

yes- 12 lots of 23p so that's £2.30 +46p

[Bathsheba]

sorry, but can I just pop in to tell PP I have some figures for him? Ta.

Baths
x x x

[mikey4444]

FF....( 22:17) ...that is just what I had in mind earlier !

[jourdain2]

Grandson (7) is involved with this and I am quite exercised. He is an intelligent boy (emotionally a bit 'off the wall' but I can vouch for intelligence). He has yet again (3rd time) failed to pass his 2x table test. He knows it perfectly well, but they tie it up with division and there is a 25 question test on both. Each time he has got a different question wrong. Surely (as in my day) knowing your times table should be enough and division follows? (I sense a mathematician hovering here). Grandson is now dispirited and demoralised and ready to give up on maths.. I'm furious.

His mum, aunt and me were all well on to our complete times tables by his age (I think I had done them all except for the 7x - still a problem for me) at the same age. This is overkill i.m.o. Let them learn tables first - then the rest follows.

[paddywak]

I was doing my advanced electrical exams in the early 70's and like Peter we could only use Log Books and Slide Rule.I've still get my old SL out every now and then just to keep my hand in.

[mikey4444]

"Let them learn tables first - then the rest follows"

Well said Jourdain2....its just common sense to me !

Can I also say that I never heard the word mathematics uttered, when I was that age....it was just plain arithmetic back in the 50's-60's.

[Jackdaw33]

I agree. What is 6 x 2 produces the answer 12. How many 2s in 12 is more complicated for the young mind.

[fiction-factory]

Too many children even at secondary school do have mental block with division and just don't seem to realise that it is just the inverse of multiplication. If your daughter knows her 2 times tables should with practice be able to remember all the corresponding division fac understand why the school does this to test the ability to use the information that has been learnt.

[fiction-factory]

Sorry- some words/letters are not appearing. Sometimes I can tap for a minute and then realise none of it has appeared. I can't go back and make changes either- it freezes and all i can do is press submit

[Togo]

Kid you all not, by the age of nine I knew my times tables up to 23 and was pushed by my form teacher Miss Taylor to add 11,12, 13 etc to them all just for fun. Not kidding and although I couldn't recite them now, I can still do mental arithmetic that sometimes shocks the youngsters who actually think it is witchcraft or a con from me.

[Baldric]

The difficulty I have with this story is, when I started Junior School at 5 yrs old in 1956 I knew all my Tables, the Alphabet and could put in a reasonable performance on the PIano (No Elton John though) thanks to input from my Mother. I assumed everyone did this and was held back/bored stupid until I got to Grammar School in 1962.

[sherrardk]

This over emphasis on testing and SATs, etc can be so demoralising for little people. Having twins who are v different I can see how it affects different sorts of kids. Thing 1 is not stupid by a long way (she's been tested), but academic stuff does not float her boat. She has extra maths work to do and tables practice at lunchtime - it makes her miserable & frustrated. Thing 2 is v academic and it's water off a duck's back to him. They're 8, they should be enjoying school, not slogging through it and being made to feel miserable and probably picked on.

[Togo]

Know the feeling Baldric but in my case it was my Maternal Grandfather who encouraged and bowled me along.

[Jackdaw33]

When I was taught division of fractions I was told to turn the divisor upside down and multiply. No problem. It was a few years later before I grasped the rationale.