Another computer program that addresses a key skill is Conquering Tables, a program to teach and practise multiplication tables.
Having instant recall of multiplication tables is a key factor for students to achieve success in mathematics as they enter high school. If they don’t know their multiplication tables well, learning the many new concepts will be unnecessarily difficult. If they do know them, it helps them be able to work to their ability level.
The problem however is, how can we help children learn their tables and have sufficient practice for them to become automatic. This is an area where drill and practice is essential, as well as understanding, to attain the necessary fluency.
Conquering Tables presents each of the multiplication tables three times, each time with different diagrams, giving a variety of visual/intuitive representations. Children are encouraged to say the table along with the computer, or at least subvocalise it. (This takes approximately one and a half minutes.) This is followed by a set of six random questions to practise that table. Five to ten minutes a day, several days a week will make all the difference.
Also there are some useful tricks and tips about multiplication facts and factors.
My apologies to anyone who downloaded an earlier version. A technical error transferring this as a single file over the internet meant that each sound would only play once. Then some sound files were missing.
You can now download the updated version for free by clicking here:
Then click on DOWNLOAD ALL. Or right click on the folder name and choose “Download”. This may take a few minutes.
If a sign “leave” appears, click it. You will eventually find the file in your downloads folder. Right click on it and choose “Extract here” or “Unzip to here”. This will make a folder, e.g. Alphabet Album” in downloads. Move this to a convenient place. Open the folder, then double click on AlphabetAlbum.exe (for example) to run it, or make a shortcut to your desktop.
Feel free to share these as widely as you like, but not to sell them.
Conquering Tables is part of Gilead® Success with Maths, a series of interactive computer programs and games and activities to print that lay a firm foundation for success in high school maths.
Available now: Gilead® Success with Phonics, Reading Part 2 and Maths, three programs on one USB memory stick. It is ideal for homeschool, particularly if your child’s school is still in lockdown, to help children catch up if they have missed any key skills during lockdown, as part of the normal literacy and numeracy program at school, to give your child a head start …
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