$Math Games$

Math Tables: Essential and Achievable

A child who learns her math tables is at a great advantage. This essential knowledge is often overlooked in primary school curricula these days.

Over the past ten years I have seen a steady decline in the basic skills of 12 and 13 year old students (Year 7 in Australia, the beginning of secondary school). I have made it a regular feature of my teaching with this age group to insist that they learn their multiplication tables. As a result of this I have seen these same students grow in confidence and skill, being able to tackle new concepts in maths knowing that they can calculate quickly and accurately.

The biggest advantage for your child is speed. With a thorough knowledge of the multiplication tables she will be able to concentrate on new tasks and concepts without having to repeatedly stop and look up multiplications in a table. This will mean both faster work but also more continuous concentration on the current work.

There is also the added bonus of the child learning their divisions at the same time, but this will be covered later.

Before You Start: About the Free Downloads

Each link to the downloadable maths sheets will open a PDF file in a separate window. You can then print or save the file, or both. To return to this page, simply close that additional browser window.

All the files presented here are open to public usage. They are free for use and / or distribution as you wish

Correct Learning Technique

Prior to starting, please have a quick browse of this page on how to learn math tables. These suggestions will give the most positive results for your child in the quickest time frame. There is nothing like success to encourage further effort.

Obtain a copy of the Multiplication Tables

There are two versions of the math tables I have placed here. The easiest, and the one I recommend your child starts with, is the one to ten times tables. These go from 1x1 to 10x10. You could make these yourself easily enough, but there is no need.

Get the 1 - 10 times table here

or

Get the 1 - 15 times table here.

These are far better than the multiplication grid on the back of exercise books. They are easy to read and you can isolate one single table without being presented with a whole sea of numbers.

Practice them!

The best way to be good and fast at the multiplication tables is to practice and practice some more! Writing out the times tables forwards, backwards, in random order...it's all good. If you haven't looked at it yet, see the how to learn multiplication tables page.

Testing Resources

There are two types of testing resources here. I've had to put them on separate pages because of the number of files provided in each.

Have a look at the practice maths multiplication grids here, and the practice maths speed test sheets here.

Having fun with Maths

Variety is important for maintaining your child's interest in maths. This Math Blaster program is like an adventure game that includes addition, times tables and so on. It's entertaining and a good alternative to watching TV. Your child won't even be aware she's learning! Clicking on the picture will take you to the publisher. They've got a whole series of them so you'll definitely find one that's right for your child.

Return from Math Tables to Mathematics Freeware or return to the Green Planet home page for more Solar Power Facts.