I'm at my wits end. Our son is intelligent and makes decent grades. He knows HOW to multiply and divide but still doesn't know his times tables by heart. It means that he is extremely slow at doing his math work (counting on his fingers and such) and I think it has given his current math teacher a negative view of him. We've tried everything over the past 4 years to get him to memorize them but it just doesn't seem to stick (he knows probably half of them at this point). We've tried: flash cards, worksheets, Multiplication Rock & Rap (thinking if he could remember songs then he'd remember his times tables), games, constant quizzing, etc. But nothing seems to work. Has anyone dealt with this with their child or perhaps you had a hard time learning them when you were younger? Any suggestions? This is very hard for me to understand because math was always my strong subject and I knew my multiplication tables by 3rd grade. Not to mention that I am the resident "math tutor" for every kid in our neighborhood or youth group. I can get them to understand Algebra II and Calculus and yet I can't seem to get my own son to remember what 8 X 6 is.
I had a problem with multiplication also. What I found helpful was memorizing . I made a sheet with all the multiplication tables and their answers. I then proceeded to memorize them. Later I was able to do worksheets in less then one minute.Try it it might help. Good luck.
Hi A.,
My 12 year old daughter has the same problem. Her father is a math wiz and yet she can remember times tables. They have found her to be dyslexic and frankly she is just not that interested in math. She asked me how many times I have had to say my multiplication tables when I got out of school. I guess she was trying to make a point. Her grades are good and with help her math grades are good. She just doesnt seem to feel the need to memorize them because she is just not interested. Don't know if this helps or not, but you are not alone.
Hi. I was a teacher for 11 years before I had children. I taught mainly 4th and 5th graders at a school for children with Learning Disablities. I have dealt with MANY children who couldn't memorize their tables and it really does hinder them in solving other problems. I finally realized that if I couldn't get them to memorize their tables then it was my job to give them tools to be able to solve the problems quickly. To start with I would teach them 0 times any number is 0 and 1 times any number is that number. Once we know those rules then there are only 36 tables left to know. Now I tell them 2's and 5's are easy because you can count by those. Next I teach them how to count by 3's and 4's. To count by 3's we would do it to the tune of Jingle Bells: 3,6,9...30 now we're done! I never figured out a fun way for 4's. Basically we would start with 4, 8, 12 and every few days would add the next number until we were up to 40. Now once they learn to count by 3's and 4's then there are only 10 tables left to work with. With these we would work with one set at a time and say them like a military chant. For instance we would do the 6's : 6x6=36, 6x7=42, 6x8=48, 6x9=54. We would say them over and over in that order until they had them memorized. It was much easier for them to remember them like that then it was to learn them one at a time. I'm not sure why but it was. Then we would move on to 7's starting with 7x7 until we would be at 9's which would just be 9x9. A lot of times if the kids were needing 6x8 they would have to start with 6x6 and say the chant in their heads until they reached 6x8. Now it wasn't as fast as just knowing 6x8 but it was faster then a lot of scratch marks on the paper. Just a couple of other things. If you choose to do something like this I would sit your son down and show him how you can break the tables up into more managable pieces so it is not so overwhelming. Also I would work on one piece at a time to mastery before moving onto the next. Finally when you move onto the next step don't forget to review the previous steps. This is something I would do in the car, before he plays or watches tv or right before bedtime. I would make it something that lasts about 5 minutes at a time several times during the day. I hope this helps and good luck. One more thing which he probably knows is to show him that 6x8 is the same as 8x6 so you only have to learn one of those tables
A.,
I would check out Partners in Achievement Learing Center. The website is www.partnersinachievement.com. I don't have a child in there but I know several people who do and it is really working for them. They help kids with all the stuff you mentioned before. It is kind of expensive but well worth it. I hope this helps.
J.
I'm not going to be much help, but hopefully I can give you some light at the end of the tunnel. I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, and a Master's degree in Computer Science, all very heavy math based studies. To this day, I have to think about simple multiplication. While reading your example of 8x6, I solved it by saying in my head 8x5 is 40 plus 8 is 48. I don't memorize well; I never have. Formulas, got it. Plain memorization for memorization sake, I struggle with (as my grades in subjects like History will attest).
Your son isn't a lost cause if he can't memorize those tables. Maybe doing like I did and learning the common ones and then the tricks for getting to the others might help? Like learning the 5 times tables, then you can add or subtract to get 4x and 6x.
Good luck!
im almost 22 and still don't know all my times tables. just because you are a math wiz, doesn't mean your son is. find a method that works for HIM and relax. so wat if he don't know wat 8x6 is, as long as he does his best and you acknowledge that, he'll be fine
Hi A.,
Don't stress about it and don't let him stress about it. I agree with everyone else that school is getting harder especially with the stupid testing going on. I have always had a problem with math. I tested above average in everything, but math was the lowest score. I still have problems with the multiplication tables. My son has ADHD, and I'm actually considering getting myself tested. But, he has learning disabilities. My mother never had me tested, but she thinks I might have too. My brother did as well. All it means is that he has a little bit of a harder time than other children. The school actually will test him for learning disabilities, but you have to ask, and continue to make a big deal about it until they do it. Good luck!
TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!!! My mother was a math wiz and I still struggle.....and I'm a college graduate!! Call KUMON......they have a really good method of teaching math. May help him get over the hump.
Hey A.. when I was in middle school I had a hard time remembering multiplication. And I always counted on my fingures. My dad was trying everything to get me not to use my fingures, we had a meeting with the school counciler and she told my dad not to worry and not to force me to remember them. so he stoped, every now and then I can't remember what times what equals, so I use my fingurs, but for the most part I know it. it will come in time, he's stressed out because you want him to learn it. I suggest making cards, and testing him once a week, tell him it's just to see his progress. let him know you don't want to stress him out! School is very hard now a days and getting harder. There are test he has to past, (where I was from its called an FCAT, every state is different) and thats very stressful on a kid so young. I hope this helps you and your son!
Hi A... Sorry I don't have any advice for you on this topic because my 11 yr old son struggles with Math as well.. currently(and for the past few months) he's been attending the after school math tutoring program... He's showing improvements as far as not becoming too frustrated, but per his progress reports he still needs assistance.
Ive spoken to his teacher and I suggested taking him to an outside tutoring program, but he advised against it and says he feels my son is ok and will be fine.. I'm at a cross road because he's normally a very good student, ut theres just something about multiplication thats holding him back.. so I'm worried that he won't have the knowledge to enter middle school next school year.
If you find anything helpful please let me know as well.
From one concerned Mom to another!
Thanks!
I know this is not funny for you but it did make me smile. I never learned my multiplication tables.(my mom still does not let me live that down) I wish they had had the rock& rap when i was younger, it would have helped me. I dont know what to tell you, it just never was intresting to me. And I did graduate from high school! Good thing I have a smarty pants husband.
I was like your son, and now at almost 30 I still dont know them. I dont know why but I was NEVER able to memorize them. The ones I do remember are the onces that I associate with something like the 5s with a clock.or the ones that have rhymes with them like " 8 x 8 drop it on the floor pick it up makes 64" but I still have to go through them one by one sometimes. I didnt and still dont have the attention span to remember them and most things actually. I have ADD diagnosed when I was in about 3rd grade. I cant do basic math but algebra , trig I aced in college lol. Could he be ADD? consider having him tested? Then you could have a name for the problem and get some stragadys for helping him.
