St John's C of E Primary School
"Use your God-given gifts to serve others." 1 Peter 4: 10
Times Tables
Times tables are taught explicitly so that children achieve the objective of knowing all multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4 (see times table progression document). Children who are fluent in their times tables find accessing more advanced topics such as fractions, percentages and ratio much easier. Timestable Rockstars (ttrockstars.co.uk) is a website and app that supports us with this. If your child is in Year 2 upwards, they should know how to log on – please see the teacher if they cannot.
Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory, national test for children in the UK in the summer term of Year 4.
The MTC determines whether children can recall their multiplication tables fluently (being able to answer times tables questions accurately and quickly, without having to work out the answers) as this skill will benefit them in Secondary School and beyond.
You can find more information here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multiplication-tables-check-information-for-parents
Here is a practice MTC tests which your child can try at home:
For another practice MTC check, your child can log into TT Rockstars and enter the ‘Soundcheck’ section.
(At the bottom of this page there are some great, more general, resources and fun games to help your child with their X tables below – whatever year group they are in.)
TOP TIPS for parents
There are many different ways to say the tables and they're all correct - but it helps if you're consistent and if you adopt the language your child already uses at school. For example we have:
* three times eight is …
* three multiplied by eight is …
* three eights are …
* three lots of eight are …
What are the methods for learning tables?
* Stick to learning one times table at a time.
* Start with chanting and writing them out slowly in order.
* Then move on to completing the answers quickly in order - on paper or verbally with your child.
* Finally, move on to completing the answers in any order
* Keep reminding your child that 3 x 4 is the same as 4 x 3 - this effectively halves the number of tables facts.
* Each times table has a square number 3x3, 7x7 - these are special and can help you remember.
* Talk about the numbers as you encounter them "5 x 8 = 40 that's mummy's age" , "3 x 6 = 18 that's our house number" . . . this makes more memory hooks.
* When you're trying to speed up recalling tables introduce some games.
* Games in the car usually work – your child can’t escape!!
What are the tips and tricks for learning each times table?
* The 2s, 4s and 8 times tables are doubles of each other - with many common answers - 2x8=16, 4x4=16, 8x2 =16.
* The nine times tables can use the ten times tables and work back or compensate - so for 5 x 9, think ( 5 x 10 ) = 50 then - 5 = 45, also note that the digits in the answer always add to 9.
* The 3 and 6 times table are tricky. Do the 3s first then the 6s - expect these to be more difficult and make an allowance in time.
* The 7 times tables are hard but if you've done the other tables first you'll find you've encountered most of the 7s already elsewhere - such as 7x4=28, 7x3=21
* 7x8=56 is the hardest times table! - but tell this to your child and make a big deal about it and they'll never forget it