Most of us remember having our times tables drummed into us in school and I’d bet many of us still know how to use them, all these years later.
These days, there doesn’t seem to be as much emphasis placed on times tables in schools, but learning them is key to being successful in maths.
Even if maths doesn’t seem important, it’s a core subject in school and many employers still require a pass at GCSE level when recruiting for jobs.
This might seem like a long way off at the moment, but it’s a good idea to help children develop these skills sooner rather than later, to set them up with a foundation of maths skills for life.
Building their learning
Children aren’t expected to learn all of the times tables straight away, but according to the Welsh Government’s National Literacy and Numeracy Framework, they should be able to multiply by 2, 5 and 10 by Year 2.
By Year 3, they should be able to multiply by 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10.
By Year 4, they should have also learned how to multiply by 6 and by Year 5 they should be multiplying by 8.
They should know all of their multiplication tables (up to 12) by the time they’re in Year 6 and should be able to calculate more complex numbers by Year 8.
This will allow them to gradually build up their maths skills and help them to work out more complicated maths much easier – this will enable them to perform better in tests.
Games and Tips
Maths may not always seem like the most exciting topic, but there are ways that you can try and make it more fun – yes, really!
These free games from Top Marks are designed to help children develop their multiplication skills, while The School Run has some simple tips to make learning easier – such as encouraging children to chant the numbers to help embed them in their memory. Schools can also get in on the action with fun resources like Times Tables Rock Stars.
But of course, finding the time to practice times tables at home can be a challenge for many busy families, which is why our lovely tutors at Love to Learn Tuition Centre can help build your child’s confidence, skills and enjoyment in learning.
If this is something your child is struggling with, don’t hesitate to contact us here.