Learning multiplication tables. It’s almost like a rite of passage for children. If your child hasn’t yet come across time tables in their curriculum, you can bet they are coming!
Like our article on ways to memorize the periodic table, here are a few tips for learning times tables so your child won’t feel overwhelmed or confused when testing time comes.
1) Make a daily commitment
As it goes for learning any subject, cramming never really works. As soon as your child brings home their first times table task, you should begin regular daily practice. When you’re driving in the car, at the dinner table (a quick round will do!), or doing chores around the house– do a run through with your child! By making small daily commitments, your child will eventually get faster and more competent at memorizing them.
2) Repeat, repeat, repeat!
Since the majority of learning multiplication tables comes down to memorization, repetition is key. Yes, we mean the drills. Or mad-minutes, or whatever you remember them as. There is a reason this method has stuck around for so long– it’s effective! Here’s where you can create and print your very own multiplication worksheets for your child.
Also, see this article on our blog about photographic memory and helping to develop memorization skills.
3) Make it fun
Interactive online games for times tables might be what incentives your child needs to learn multiplication. Here are two sources where you can find a variety of multiplication games:
4) Strategize
If the above methods haven’t worked, there are a couple of unique strategies you can use for learning times tables. And, keep a note that different kids may learn differently, which is why as tutors and teachers, we can use methods that focus on their learning styles. Read these two blogs on our site that discuss this in more detail:
- How Parents and Tutors Can Help Children Recognize Their Learning Styles
- Math Tutoring Tips for Children with Different Learning Styles
First, you can use music. Music is known to benefit brain function, so why not try it as a platform for multiplication? Interchange the lyrics of a familiar tune (ie; Happy Birthday or B-I-N-G-O) with numbers and sing away!
Also see on our blog:
Second, you can actually use your hands for multiplication. Although the practicality of this may be questionable, it’s still amazing how the numbers work out every time. Check out this cool step-by-step to learn how to multiply numbers 6-10!
Get those tables turning!
Teaching your child multiplication tables should be as easy as following the tips above. Chemistry or trigonometry might not be life-applicable for everyone after grade school, but learning how to multiply is a life skill your child will undoubtedly use in the future. It’s 10×10% the truth!
