When it comes to times tables, speed AND accuracy are important – the more facts a child remembers, the easier it is for them to complete harder calculations. Times Table Rock Stars is a fun and challenging programme designed to help children master the times tables. To be a Times Table Rock Star they need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!
World famous rock musicians are the best at what they do because they've spent hours practising guitar chords, writing music or playing on the drums. It's just the same with times tables – all Times Table Rock Stars need to practise and practise and practise.
Research shows that daily practise is the best strategy for children to learn these important facts. Short bursts of daily practise are much more effective than spending hours once a week.
Parental support is critical in this area. For children to be fully motivated and for them to get the best out of the practice, they need an adult's help. Without a Parent's praise and reminders, without sitting down together or checking their work, practising times tables will not feel important.
Each class or group within a class will be set a schedule of times tables to work on by their teacher.
The quicker a child can answer a times tables question, the higher their Rock Status.
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≤ 1 sec/qu = Rock Hero ≤ 2 secs/qu = Rock Legend ≤ 3 secs/qu = Rock Star ≤ 4 secs = Headliner ≤ 5 secs/qu = Support Act ≤ 6 secs/qu = Breakthrough Artist |
≤ 7 secs/qu = Unsigned Act ≤ 8 secs/qu = Gigger ≤ 9 secs/qu = Busker ≤ 10 secs/qu = Garage Rocker > 10 secs/qu = Wannabe
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Looking for ideas to support your child's times tables development? Take a look at the suggestions below:
*Read the times tables that are being focussed for your child (you child's teacher will be able to let you know if you aren't sure what they are working on). Do it a second time round but this time your child should be trying to say them without reading them from the page. It is more important that they say them correctly than say them quickly to begin with.
*Download the Scatter Tables below. To use them, you call out a question from the times table you are focusing on and your child should point to the answer on the page. For example, if you are concentrating on the 5 times table, then find the Scatter Table for the 5s and call out questions like, “9 times 5” (your child points to 45), “6 times 5” (your child points to 30) or “5 times 12” (your child points to 60). Your child should be trying to get them correct each time and not worrying about the speed.
*Write the focus times table out, initially in order and then in a random order
*Chant, rap or sing times table songs (try Percy Parker or MathsRockx)
*Play TTRockstars online using the login card in your child's home school book. They should play for a short while until they are successfully answering the questions quickly. TTRockstars online can be accessed via https://ttrockstars.com/ or using the app which is free to download.
Numbots
NumBots is an online game and playing little and often will significantly improve your child’s recall and understanding of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts. These are critical foundations in maths so we are excited by the impact NumBots will have.
Important: please don’t allow siblings, friends or family to answer for them but do support your child if they’re stuck.
Little and often
In order to get the best out of NumBots children should regularly play for short bursts 5 minute bursts will be enough to improve your child’s understanding.
Game Types
1. Story Mode – the emphasis is on learning the ideas and concepts behind addition and subtraction so it features more diagrams, shapes and question styles.
2. Challenge Mode – the emphasis is more on speed of recall of key facts, like number bonds to 10, doubling small numbers or adding & taking away in your head.