[Senco-forum] Multiplication tables
Amanda Owen
alowen at vossnet.co.uk
Sun Mar 4 15:42:48 GMT 2012
Dear all,
I absolutely agree with the problem of moving on before mastery is achieved and am always having conversations with parents about learning maths as being like building brick walls and not being able to build on shaky foundations, or foundations with gaps. Often recommend Kumon.
However, there was a programme on TV a few years ago that featured an intelligent computer system that tracked the sorts of sums that kids got wrong and made them go back until they'd got it. Whoever wrote the programme had put in all the steps that you need to have secured in order to do maths and had created algorithms that worked out precisely what process was going wrong. Struck me as being a rather tedious way to learn in many respects (and this coming from a complete computer geek) but possibly a really useful diagnostic tool if done once in a while. Perhaps you all know about this but I can't remember much and apart from the cost of computers so that each child in the class could use them simultaneously, not sure why it didn't catch on. Somewhere around Reading or somewhere in Berkshire I think......
Best wishes,
Amanda
----- Original Message -----
From: Philip MacMillan
To: Maggie Downie ; Louise Gibbins ; senco-forum new list ; Rosie Goodband
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2012 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Senco-forum] Multiplication tables
Tables, have the learner recite them on tape/ PC then listen to them, and write them out multiple times with a decent gap between practices. The exercise of writing to dictation will enhance recall as musculature is being used, and, at the end of the day all learning is muscular. Tables are also good for division, cover up the two numbers you are dealing with and the one left is the answer. For absolute beginners the entry skill is number bonds to 20 in comfort. You also need to ensure a good grasp of place value. The major problem with math teaching (a very sequential subject) in general is that methods are not taught to mastery before moving on to the next step. Too much ground is covered and consequently many fall behind because they lack mastery in one or more of the methods in the sequence. Rote learning to mastery, and it has to be to mastery, has its place.
Philip EP
From: Maggie Downie
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2012 1:56 PM
To: Louise Gibbins ; senco-forum new list ; Rosie Goodband
Subject: Re: [Senco-forum] Multiplication tables
Sorry to be a bit snippy, but how do multiplication games help to improve knowledge of multiplication tables? Is it the constant repetition of finding out the product of two numbers which eventually leads to automatic recall? If it is, how do you know that all possible permutations have been adequately covered so as to achieve automatic recall for every one of them?
I have to confess that I haven't looked at any of the links, perhaps the answers to my questions might be obvious if I did. But I am just curious as to how games 'work', to improve a skill, which ask a child to apply knowledge that they don't have...
Personally, I'd have him chanting his tables every day. Promotes automatic recall, as most of us poor blighted drilled & killed 1950s -60s educated oldies know...
Maggie
--- On Sun, 4/3/12, Rosie Goodband <member at rgoodband.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
From: Rosie Goodband <member at rgoodband.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Senco-forum] Multiplication tables
To: "Louise Gibbins" <lollipop521 at hotmail.com>, "senco-forum new list" <senco-forum at lists.education.gov.uk>
Date: Sunday, 4 March, 2012, 11:16
www.multiplication.com has many multilpication games. A lack of multiplication skills is a problem for many secondary pupils. Numbershark and Maths Wiz also have multiplication sections on them. These both have to be bought. Also tell her to put 'multiplication games' into a search engine and there will be many more to choose from.
Regards, Caroline
========================================
Message Received: Mar 04 2012, 11:09 AM
From: "Louise Gibbins"
To: "senco-forum new list"
Cc:
Subject: [Senco-forum] Multiplication tables
Hi all.
I've been asked by a friend how she can help her son learn his times tables. He'll be taking his gcse's this year and needs to get a c at maths. She knows this is an area he just doesn't seem able to grasp.
Anyone know any good websites / apps specifically for this purpose?
Look forward in advance to any responses.
Louise
Sent from my iPhone
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