Times Tables
It is vital that children know their times tables, and associated division facts, by Year 4. Times tables come into every area of maths, and children who do not have quick access to these facts will find other concepts much more difficult to master. In addition to this, the government has introduced a statutory times table test which every Year 4 child will need to complete. This is due to begin in June 2020.
Any help children receive with their times tables at home will be invaluable. As well as rote testing, it is important that the children can apply their knowledge to different contexts. For example, times tables should be presented with the missing box in different positions of the calculation and not always at the end. As they progress through school, they should also be able to use their know facts to derive other facts such as the multiplication of decimals.
Below are some useful links for practising times tables.
Useful links for parents/carers
Below are a list of websites that your children may find useful for sharpening their times table skills. As well as providing a competitive edge, that children typically find motivating, the instant feedback provided by online tools increases the effectiveness of any time spent revising. Playing a variety of games can also maintain interest.
Numbots (Years One-Two)
Numbots is an online platform designed to help children consolidate their understanding of addition and subtraction. Play starts in 'story mode' with simple questions. Once the children are able to answer the questions accurately and quickly, they will advance to the next level. This helps to consolidate key number facts in a fun and engaging way. We recommend that children apply a 'little and often' approach to Numbots, aiming to practise 4 or 5 times a week for short bursts of time. To help with this, please ensure that your child knows how to log on and encourage them to play regularly.
See the parent guide here:
https://static.numbots.com/data/pdf/NumBotslaunchparentguide.pdf
Log in here: https://numbots.com/
If you need help logging in - contact your child's class teacher.
Times Tables Rock Stars (Years Three-Six)
Times Table Rock Stars is an educational website which allows children to practise their times tables in a fun and engaging way. Children can choose from several different modes, including single and multiplayer games. The 'garage' setting is particularly useful as this provides each child with personalised questions based on the areas that they need to work on. We recommend that children apply a 'little and often' approach to TT Rockstars, aiming to practise 4 or 5 times a week for short bursts of time. To help with this, please ensure that your child knows how to log on and encourage them to play regularly.
See the parent guide here: https://ttrockstars.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TTRS-Parent-Guide.pdf
Log in here: https://ttrockstars.com/
If you need help logging in - contact your child's class teacher.
Other sources:
Purple Mash (requires user name and password)
Over a period of time, your child will become more confident, which will help them access a wide variety of mathematical problems confidently, such as multiplication, long multiplication, division, long division, equivalent fractions, area, perimeter, ratio and proportion.
