Times Tables are essential for learning the school maths curriculum. They are introduced in the early-middle primary school years with skip counting and multiplication. In the middle-upper years the Times Table need to start being memorised. Each school will vary slightly in their progression although Year 5 generally aims for knowing up to 10 x 10 and Year 6 should know all of the Times Tables up to 12 x 12.

As students learn new skills in mathematics, particularly in the upper primary school years, the processes become more complex. These new, complex processes require lots of brain power. If you are using your brain power to work out simple Times Tables, it limits the brain power you can use for learning and practicing new processes.

Mostly, it is just practice practice practice.

If you are in Grade 5 or 6, you are probably confident with how multiplication works and therefore you just need to do these enough so that they are memorised. Ideally, you can practice a little bit (5-10 minutes) as often as possible. Use a mixture of the methods here:

• Apps and websites: these are great because you can usually tailor the set/s you are learning and they often give instant feedback about the questions you answer. They are often more enjoyable and engaging than worksheets. Sometimes the best part about them is that they are portable and there is no excuse for not being able to practice regularly!

• Booklets: take home a booklet each week and if you bring these back regularly enough you will get a reward! These are paper based and are a good way to see how much practice you are doing. You can also make these into a test and I will correct them for you if you like.

• Learning strategies: some students might benefit from learning strategies with the Times Tables. In your session you will have the chance to learn these where needed. These might be simple tricks for memorising or learning the different ways multiplication can be calculated.