The age-old problem of Times Tables….

Why do some students have difficulty learning the Times Tables?

Students appear to have little difficulty learning entertainment facts and trivia. Students also learn to read and spell hundreds of words and yet they struggle to remember the basic multiplication facts. Clearly for the most part while memory does play a role in learning the basic facts, it is not the most important factor and should not be blamed for students not learning them. It is acknowledged, however, that there are some students with poor memories who will need to rely on using strategies to reconstruct the basic multiplication facts.

Experience suggests that students who rely solely on memorising the basic multiplication facts are making the job of learning the “tables” much harder than it needs to be. Consider the symbols shown in the grid below. Imagine trying to remember each individual symbol. It would certainly be difficult. However, on deeper examination of the grid certain patterns become obvious, making the job of learning the symbols much simpler.

For example, consider the first row and the first column – the symbols are all the same. Likewise focus on the second row and column. Now look at the sixth column and sixth row. 

Clearly looking for, and using patterns will assist students to reduce the number of “table facts” that need to be memorised. Further examination of the symbols in the grid will indicate that the symbols are repeated on either side of the diagonal that runs from the top left of the grid to the bottom right. Consider the last column and row. What pattern can you spot?

It should be noted that students are less likely to notice the patterns when the basic multiplication facts are printed out in the traditional table format, as seen below. Therefore, an approach that focuses on number sense and number fluency, using appropriate mathematical strategies is much more effective in teaching students the basic multiplication facts.

Dr Paul Swan - Tackling Tables using a Strategies Approach  

Some Links to Mathematical Fluency Games for multiplication:

Multiplication Ludo: Game designed for developing number sense. There’s also lots of strategy and problem solving involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmw81dmC3kA

Product Game: This game has no luck element at all, therefore it is 100% strategic. Great game to practise multiplication facts in an engaging way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29jML8gdBxU&t=32s

Crossing the Volcano: Great game for developing fluency with multiplication facts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znr7X0EybJc&t=1s

  

Rachel Powell