Nodehill Maths

How to help with Table Facts.

Children often seem to struggle with learning their tables, but unfortunately times tables are to maths as spelling is to English. Their work will not improve unless this element is secure.

Children often complain that there are just too many numbers to remember, but if you look at a multiplication grid up to 10 x 10 half the numbers are actually repeated, for 3 x 4 = 12 is the same as 4 x 3 = 12, similarly 6 x 7 is the same as 7 x 6 i.e. 42 etc. This means that they only need to learn about half the facts on the grid, excluding the square numbers.

Children should already know their 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x tables, and if this is the case they only have 21 table facts to learn. If they already know their 3x and 4x tables and can do the 9x table on their fingers, then the number of table facts which they need to learn are lessened, down to six!

I have therefore prepared a set of table triangles, which can be downloaded, cut out and stuck on card, for the children to practise these 21 facts. You should cover up the answer to the table sum (in bold) and show the children the remaining numbers,  which they multiply together. If they get the answer right they keep the card, but if they get it wrong, keep the triangle to practise that fact later.

If they can do all these then you can always cover up one of the other numbers, leaving the bold answer and a number, and the children can then use these to practice their division facts.

Download microsoft_word_table_facts_to_learn.pdf

Torture Tables

One way at Nodehill that teachers test the children's table knowledge is to give them torture tables tests. These consist of the children completing times table grids of various sizes within a specified time. A note of the number of facts the children got correct, plus the time they took will then be noted. The idea is that if they are practising their tables at home then their scores will increase each time, or their time become faster.

In order for the children to practise at home I have included a torture table grid for you to download. If they get familiar with the numbers being in the order given you can always change the order on the sheet.

Download torture_tables.doc

Table Aerobics

Table Aerobics is a fun way of getting children to recall table facts, especially on cold days. The children recite the tables whilst doing the relevant arm movements. The faster they can recall the tables in this way the quicker they will be able to go through their tables in order to do division sums etc. Click on the link below to download a pdf file containing the movements.

Download microsoft_word_table_aerobics_chart.pdf

Using Playing Cards

You can easily use a set of playing cards to help check table knowledge. Firstly remove the Jacks, Queens and Kings. Then shuffle the pack and divide them equally between you and your child. Both of you then reveal your top cards and the first person who multiplies them together and says the answer keeps the two cards and adds them to the bottom of  their pile. The winner is the first person to get all the cards, or who has the most after a given time.