Today is rung 3 of 26 on this topic
Times tables to 12 — automatic, not calculated
Can do: Answers any fact to 12 × 12 in under three seconds, in any order.
Why it matters
Fluent tables are the price of admission to fractions, division, area and everything in Grade 4 and 5. Nothing else this year has a bigger return.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Can chant a table from the start but can't answer 7 × 6 cold; falls back to counting up in sixes.
⏱️ Two-minute check
Ask ten random facts out of order, including 7×8, 6×9, 4×7, 12×6.
Solid looks like: Eight or more within about three seconds each.
The full activity for this topic · 10 minutes
One Table, Six Ways
- 1Work on one table for a fortnight rather than sweeping through all of them.
- 2Build it first as arrays or groups so the facts mean something.
- 3Then random order flashcards — never in sequence, because sequence lets them chant.
- 4Immediately do the division facts backwards: 42 ÷ 6, 42 ÷ 7.
- 5Time a mixed set of twenty each Friday and put the score on the fridge.
If it's too hard
Anchor facts first — 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s — then use them to reach the rest: 6×7 is 5×7 plus 7.
If it's too easy
Mixed tables at speed, and two-step: 6 × 7 × 2.
Say this
"You knew 5 × 7. So 6 × 7 is that plus one more 7. Now say the whole fact."