Oh multiplication how I came to hate you, and then love you, all through the eyes of my child. I got to see how scary and frustrating you could be, after all doesn’t three and five together make eight, not 15? But then I got to watch it all click, and to be completely honest, that is one of the best perks of homeschooling, watching it all click into place. Times Tales was just what we need.
Mastering Multiplication with Times Tales
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A little multiplication background: We started multiplication towards the end of grade 2 and she was getting the lower numbers really well, but then came summer. We read a lot during the summer, preventing the summer slide in one area, we kind of forgot our multiplication. So while learning the lower numbers came easily again, you know, counting by two, and fives, Austin just didn’t want to work to learn the higher numbers, she ran out of fingers basically and was done. Her shutting down down and not wanting to try new things is something that we are working, I’ll share more about that another time.
I had read amazing things about Times Tales and thought I’d give it a try, if it didn’t work then I wasn’t out a lot of money but at least we tried. But boy has it worked! I mean it worked instantly. She was happy to sit there and work on the stories, and on the flashcards. She was even willing, and trying, to do the division, which blew my mind.
The graphics are a bit funky, very basic, but easy to remember. The stories that they tell are the stories that teach your child multiplication for them to be able to remember. We have found it works best on the computer because she could pause it at the correct times easier.
She is quite proud of the fact that she can answer multiplication questions now without thinking about the stories she learned them through. Times Tales is specifically for the upper times tables: 3×6, 3×7, 3×8, 3×9, 4×6, 4×7, 4×8, 4×9, 6×6, 6×7, 6×8, 6×9, 7×7, 7×8, 7×9, 8×8, 8×9, 9×9.
Not only was I able to find something that worked for Austin, our oldest, I found something we’ll be able to use it again with the next two when their time comes if need be. I ordered the DVD with a CD-ROM with the bonus printables, you can print them again and again. The printables include flashcards with the characters and flashcards with just numbers, crossword puzzles, and a set character dice. I printed out the flashcard and laminated them because I love using it, but also because I know how thing tend to get ruined her within minutes thanks to little brother and puppy.
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