11 Plus Exams Forum

My yr 3 and yr4 children are both struggling with times tables. Any suggestions of good resources would be welcome. Thanks

You need loads of repetition, and then eventually, speed building. I think it's quite hard to provide it all through worksheets and games at home for a child who needs more repetition. I would suggest going to the Power of 2 website and signing on for 1 2 3 maths and just doing the timestables book only. This will give repetition and look at both multiplication and division facts and not in the standard order. It will not do speed though - but of course it will build up speed incidentally. Then to build up speed sign on to Caro* Vorderma* Arithmetic School but start with the timestable module (you do have some control over the system) and then once that's done, do the modules which relate to multiplication and division. The homework is timed so children feel under pressure to complete in time. Also it's not very exciting so they soon learn it's best just to get it done as fast as possible.

If you don't want to spend money on the online stuff, try buying all the relevant workbooks from Schofield and Sims, Carol "orderman, Rigby Star etc and work your way through them - an Amazon search will get more and more refined and you'll see the wide range there is.

Or if you don't want to spend a thing, customize your own worksheets free of charge on http://www.johngom.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, get the Percy Parker songs CD to listen to in the car. It probably won't help them remember the facts randomly though.

Thanks Mystery, that gives me plenty to consider.

I second the songs cd suggestion.

Also have a look at some games - we used Timez Attack and Table Mountain (there is also a 2-player version of this so they could challenge each other) - there are plenty of others out there too.

You can also get special dice with 8 10 and 12 sides - use a 12 sided one in conjunction with a 6, 8 or 10 sided one to randomly test tables up to 6x 8x or 10x (or 2 12 sided ones together for up to 12x) and challenge them to come up with the answer as a fun way of testing them.

Loads of free games online.

try these for a start

These games test speed and accuracy, and are fun!!

http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... eteor.html

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/Gh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... /gbcd.html

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resourc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... index.html


http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/moonmaths.swf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/mathgam ... cation.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


There are plenty more maths games on woodlands junior site

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... index.html

Just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions. What is working for us (to my surprise) is keeping this as quick and non-exciting as possible. We can run through two or three tables in the short trip to school and the johngom worksheets before and after school are quick and relatively painless. They now see some of the games sites as a treat! Also the dice; brilliant!