Times tables

One of the best ways you can help your child at home is to support them in learning their multiplication and division facts. Below is our parent booklet with lots of information about how you can help, as well as a video workshop and some useful website links.

Times Tables in Years 2, 3 and 4

Importance of times tables
Knowing times tables is crucial to your child’s progress in maths. Without knowledge of multiplication and division facts, children frequently get lost when it comes to doing anything with fractions and any multiplication or division with larger numbers. Many maths activities and tests require a quick recall of multiplication and division facts including arithmetic tests and the multiplication times tables check (MTC) introduced by the government. 

Curriculum expectations

Year 2- Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 times tables (and children to be able to count in 3s)
Year 3 - Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times tables
Year 4 - Recall multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12 × 12

Multiplication times table check (MTC)
The MTC is for children in Year 4. This is a check similar to the phonics screening check in Year 1. It will have little effect on pupils and schools but it is something all pupils will have to do nonetheless. The check is done on a computer and consists of 25 multiplication questions for the times tables up to 12 x 12. Children have 6 seconds to answer each question and 3 seconds between each question. Children have to answer all 25 questions correctly to pass.

Here is a free version that pupils can practise on, which will be similar to the real thing:

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check

We would encourage all children in Years 2-4 to practise on this at home. You will need to click on ‘Play Game’ on the right hand side of the screen. There is an option to change the difficulty so Year 2s can work on 2, 5 and 10, Year 3s on 2, 5, 10, 3, 4 and 8 and the Year 4s can complete the whole test. Please be aware that there is no point the children using the check regularly until they know the times tables for their year group well.

The Year 3 and 4 children have been completing the practise test each half term. What we have found is that the speed of the question and use of the key pad is where children make silly mistakes. We feel that familiarity with the test will give children a greater chance of passing.   

Online activities
Here are some useful websites with games and activities to help children learn their times tables:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/times-tables/coconut-multiples

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/306/Maths-Fishing-Multiplication

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/info/times-table-tester

https://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games

http://www.transum.org/Tables/Times_Tables.asp

https://tablestest.com/

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/advice-for-parents/help-with-times-tables/

Oxford Owls website has many videos, game ideas and activity sheets which you may find useful.

Times Tables Rockstars

All children from Years 2-6 have a log in and password for Times Tables Rockstars so they can log on at home too. This is a much-loved website that lets children practice their times table in a fun, engaging and rewarding way. It lets them create and build a cool avatar, join a battle of bands against other classes and compete in times tables festivals against children around the world! Children can either choose times table set by their maths teacher (Garage and Arena) or answer questions up to 12 x 12 (Studio, Festival and Rock Slam). The Sound Check activity is a simulation of the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) so a great way for the children to practise. Please contact your child’s Maths teacher, Miss Renshaw or Mrs Elliott if you are having trouble logging in.

Offline activities
Making times tables fact flash cards (strips of cards)
Playing pairs (e.g. matching the times table number sentence to the answer)
Bingo
Rolling two dice and multiplying the numbers together

Tips and strategies
Encourage children not to always start at 1 x and count on fingers eg. For 9 x children can do 10 x and take one group away. For 5 x, children can do 10 x then halve it. For 4 x, children can do 2 times and double it.

Please look out for further tips and strategies on the school website and parent information booklet which we will release next half term.

Thank you for your support in helping your children learn their multiplication and division facts!