Times / Division Tables

Multiplication / Division

Instant recall of Times / Division tables is important and there are lots of ideas on how to best teach / learn the 'Tables'.

Personally I am still a great believer in route learning (this must have something to do with my age). However, children must recall tables without having to chant the whole table in order.

To vary the route learning we focus on one table at a time

• We chant it in order - click the link to hear our favourite 3 X Table Song     ► 2:49
• Play 21 but go as high as 10 x the number (3 x tables game is 30).  E.g. skip count in 3's and the person who lands on 30 has to sit out
• We play a times table loopy game mixing the new table with 2,5,10 that we already know.
• We focus on 4-5 questions and use white boards to write answers when the teacher calls the equation.
• We work in small groups - 1 person rolls a dice and we have to times the number by the table we are learning and collect counters if we are first to answer it.
• Repetition - go over and over the same 4 equations until they are cemented in the brain then introduce another 3 new ones so you are now working on 7 equations, then add 3 more.

The order of learning:  This varies between teaching styles but this is the order I prefer to teach

• Skip count 2,5,10's (Don't mention this is times tables initially)
• Learn 0 & 1 x tables 
• Learn 2, 5 & 10's
• Learn 3 x tables
• Learn 4 x tables
• Learn squares (2x2; 3x3; 4x4; 5x5 etc)
• Learn 9 x tables using tips
  - hold hands together palms facing; put down finger on left hand we are multiplying by e.g. 3rd finger.  Count in 10's to the left of the finger down, then add the one's to the right  so 3X9=27)
  - remember the answer to all 9 X tables adds up to 9 and is the tens below
  1 x 9 = 9
  2 x 9 = 18    (1+8=9)
  3 x 9 = 27    (2+7= 9)
  7 x 9 = 63    (Must be in 60's and 6+3=9)
• Learn 11's because it's easy and kids can see the pattern
• Now look at what is left 6x7 & 7x8
  (We already learn 6,7,8 x tables when we learn the other tables)
• Don't worry about learning the 12's (10 & 2 tables can be added to work out 12's and we work in decimals now not dozens) 

Check out the following link relating to route learning

http://www.edutopia.org/rte-learning-benefits