By Mellisa Genfi
“If I had to live my life again I wouldn’t do anything else. I love Math.” Marjorie Lee Browne Mathematics Educator
Table of contents
- Maths A Universal Language
- Short Storytime: Khamani’s Times Tables Adventure
- The Role of Times Tables: It’s more than just Maths
- Strategies for Teaching Times Tables
- Times Tables Visual Aids
- Show Them Maths Geniuses and Their Impact
- Learn Maths Through Storytelling
- Practice, Practice, Practice
- Learning by Teaching: The Protégé Effect
- Building Confidence in Times Tables With Affirmations
- Make Times Tables Fun with Games
- Using Real-Life Examples
- Show Patterns Within Times Tables
- How Can I Help My Child with Times Tables at Home?
- Conclusion
Maths a Universal language
We all use maths throughout our lives and it’s a universal language we all speak. Mathematics plays a role in managing our finances, shopping, paying taxes and creating new products. Learning mathematical skills is essential for young people in today’s sophisticated world. Maths will not only be important for careers such as Medicine, Engineering and Accountancy, however Maths will be needed to prepare our children for careers that don’t exist at this point in time.
Many careers in the future will need people that understand complex data and coding algorithms, Mathematics will play an essential role. Exposing children to basic mathematical concepts at an early age can benefit them academically. Teaching your child to be confident in learning Times Tables builds a strong foundation for solving complex problems, logical reasoning, and real-world applications.
Learn the benefits of timetables and the strategies parents can use to help their children excel in calculation.
How will teaching our children times tables give them confidence to prepare for the future? Discover strategies and the best way you can help your child learn times tables with ease, creating lifelong maths success!
Short Storytime: Khamani’s Times Tables Adventure
3.30 pm and the school bell rang, Khamani sat at his desk with a rumbling feeling in his stomach, tomorrow’s math test was around the corner, and he was very scared. Hearing whispers all around him of how the times tables were too hard, especially the seven, eight, nine and twelve tables. Khamani had a secret, he had been practising his times tables with his grandma. While practising with her, she told him something very important to remember: “Numbers are like our friends, once you become familiar with them, they will always be there for you.” Khamani realised there was nothing to be afraid of; he practised so much with Grandma that the numbers in the times tables were his friends for life. The next school day Khamani sat at his desk with Ms Wilson putting the times tables test on his desk, he filled in all of his answers, waiting for his teacher to collect the test papers. Later on in the day, Ms Wilson gave everyone their scores; to her surprise, Khamani got 98% on the test. “Wow!” she shouted. “Thank you, Grandma,” Khamani whispered.
The Role of Times Tables: It’s More Than Just Maths!
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Times tables, whether they are used for dividing or learning to tell the time, are crucial for developing strong mathematical abilities, as well as critical thinking skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Check out the benefits of young people learning times tables consistently:
- Helps children recognise different types of patterns.
- Resolve complex mathematical problems such as division, fractions, algebra and geometry.
- High probability of mastering other subjects such as physics, chemistry and many more.
- Makes children confident and gain independence.
- Aspire to solve real-life issues.
- Understand numerical relationships.
- Empower students to manage digital tools, spreadsheets and coding.
Strategies for Teaching Times Tables
As a parent you are your child’s first teacher, creating an environment for your child to become a lifelong learner will have a great impact on their life. Laying a foundation of creating positive habits in learning times tables and supporting your child’s learning can help build their confidence and academic success in the future. Check out these fun learning strategies that you can use for your child to develop a love for maths.
Times Tables Visual Aids
Having visual images of mathematical posters around the house in the bedroom or the kitchen is beneficial for children, especially for children who are visual learners. Powerful fun designs with bright colours combined with multiplication can help your child grasp times tables concepts and patterns, helping them to memorise times tables faster. According to Kouyoumdjian, a clinical psychologist, a large body of research indicates that visual cues help us to better retrieve and remember information. Using visual aids with your child’s favourite animations can increase rapid learning of times tables.
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Show Them Maths Geniuses and Their Impact
We know of math geniuses such as Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Explore math geniuses that aren’t normally talked about within the mainstream, you can introduce them to math geniuses such as Imhotep, Benjamin Banneker, Dr Gladys West, Katherine Johnson, Majorie Lee Brown, Thomas Mensah, Faith Odunsi and Baby Devan Defrieitas. Whichever math genius you decide to research, introduce your child to their stories and show them their journey with maths.
Learn Maths Through Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool for children to learn times tables. Many children see maths as difficult and boring; however, blending maths with exciting adventurous narratives can help your child gain a love for maths.
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Practice, Practice, Practice!
We have all heard the saying “Practice Makes Perfect”. The more your child practises times tables, the better they will become. Writing times tables consistently in their notepads, doing daily times tables worksheets and repeating them out loud will build momentum, developing a healthy habit of being disciplined and consistent and also enhancing memory.
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Learning by Teaching: The Protégé Effect
Children learn best when they are able to teach others what they have learnt. According to https://kaplan.co.uk/blog/learning/learn-better-by-teaching, the teacher as the student is called ‘The Protégé Effect.’ Role reversal as the child acts as the teacher. When your child starts gaining confidence in times tables, ask them to teach you the concepts. Make it fun by letting your child role-play their presentation and record it.
Building Confidence in Maths With Affirmations
Children can develop self-confidence by using affirmations, repeating phrases to remind themselves that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. Times Tables affirmations such as “I love times tables”, “I can master times tables”, and “I am confident in all of the times tables”. Saying these affirmations consistently can help your child’s mindset towards maths. Self-love and confidence affirmations also help within the education setting.
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Make Times Tables Fun with Games
Don’t make maths dull when you have various ways of making it fun. Downloading maths games such as Doodle and White Rose Maths can make times tables fun to do. Using flashcards and interactive cards will also excite them to learn their times tables.
Using Real-Life Examples
Maths is highly used in real life, so provide them with real-life settings to practise their maths skills. Giving your child a debit card created for kids, such as Gohenry, Natwest Rooster, Starling, Greenlight and many more on the market, can help your child learn times tables quicker. Earning an allowance through work being done around the house, they can practise multiplying their earnings, e.g., “If you give them £5 a week, 5 x 4 is £20.”
Show Patterns Within Times Tables
Parents must encourage students to learn timetables by using patterns to remember multiples. Pattern recognition fosters the development of logical reasoning. When listening to popular music such as pop, R&B, jazz, and many others, highlight the music patterns by clapping and tapping your feet to the beat, e.g., “1,2,3,4, 1,2,3,4.” Singing songs and nursery rhymes also engages young children in remembering patterns. Let your child count in 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s daily.
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How Can I Help My Child with Times Tables at Home?
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You can help your child learn timetables by:
- Encourage daily practice
- Make times tables learning a fun
- Using technology to aid the learning mechanism
- Connecting maths with real-life examples
Conclusion
Children’s academic performance and practical problem-solving skills in the 21st-century depend on their ability to learn times tables. Good multiplication skills can improve problem-solving skills, increase self-confidence and even make daily life easier. From budgeting to coding, maths is more than just solving equations, it’s about preparing the next generation of children to face obstacles in their path. Make times tables an integral part of your child’s life for their future success.
Mellisa is an Author and founder of Love Me Stories Publishing. She is passionate about creating creative learning solutions for the 21st century child.
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