"3rd Grade children need to learn timestables."
FALSE.
Learning timestables is not an essential part of mathematical learning. Effective young mathematicians develop a range of techniques for finding the answers to multiplication.
Timestables are a set of multiplication facts that are designed to be memorized to make the process of grouping quicker. It is a shortcut to a goal that can be achieved even without utilizing memory.
"Why learn timestables then?"
Multiplication facts up to x12 can be useful for the faster calculation of problems that require the multiplication process.
It can empower students and dramatically improve their confidence in mathematics class.
It is a personal achievement to be able to confidently recall multiplication facts and it allows children to utilise the same learning techniques they developed learning timetables into future learning challenges.
"What is the best way to learn the 12x multiplication facts?"
Only memorize some of the timestables - not all. Most timestables can easily be completed using other mental computation techniques. Save the memory for the most challenging of all.
Let's have a look at each group of timestables...
Comments ()