8 of the best times tables tricks for teachers
If any children are finding a particular multiplication table a struggle, there's always a neat gimmick that might help, and these videos show some of our favourites
- by Teachwire
From the ’30 days have September’ rhyme, to ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Football’, teachers’ heads are generally full of handy memory techniques for kids to use. And multiplication tables aren’t exempt from this.
Quite frankly, many tips and tricks for young children may just confuse matters, but they’re great to have as a backup. You never know when one might come in handy to make their brains click, and get them over an educational hurdle.
Plus, a lot of these just show how amazing numbers and patterns can be, which might help to ignite an interest in maths.
We’ll go ahead and skip the 1 and 2 times tables. Then we’ll ignore the 5s, 10s and 11s too if it’s OK with everyone. Otherwise, let’s get multiplying.
So here’s how to teach times tables – and all without the use of a times table grid. PS – you can also download our times tables worksheets bumper pack.
3 times table
You probably won’t need help with the three times table, but this guide works as a precursor for the six times table later, so it’s worth a watch.
4 times table
This one is so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. Unless you did, in which case, pat yourself on the back. You’re a star.
6 times table
So, did you watch the three times table video liked we asked? Or did you skip over it like the maverick teacher that you are? Oh, you.
7 times table
‘It’s not much complicated.’ You’re right, girl on video. Adorably put.
8 times table
Now, just remember, it’s 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4 again, 3, 2, 1, 0. And that’s how you count, kids. OK, it’s not, but this video does include cool little animated superheroes Definitely Not Batman and Totally Not Spider-Man (please don’t sue, DC and Marvel).
9 times table
Ah, the old fingers trick. You probably know this one, but this video has a kid called Mya giving instructions, and Mya is pretty cool.
12 times table
Let’s ignore that Thing from The Addams Family has used an unnecessary apostrophe when writing ’12s’ at the top of the page, and lets just be impressed that a hand is so good at multiplication.
Bonus: Multiplying numbers between 6 and 10
This is one of those tricks you think can’t possibly work, until you remember we work in Base 10 because we have that many fingers (or, yes, don’t be pedantic, eight fingers and two thumbs). But other than that, we’re not convinced black magic isn’t involved.
