Learning Focus

The Importance of Learning Multiplication Facts 

Not long ago, I was sitting poolside with a fellow parent who also happens to be a high school maths teacher. As we chatted about mathematics, I asked him, "What’s one thing you think students could improve on that would significantly impact their success in secondary maths?" Without hesitation, he replied, "Times tables—they don’t know their multiplication facts well enough, and it hinders their ability to do other things."

Mastering multiplication facts is crucial for building a strong mathematical foundation. These facts underpin many other mathematical concepts and are essential for success in both academic settings and everyday life.

At Newport Lakes, we don’t just ask students to memorise their multiplication facts. In Years 3 and 4, we guide them in developing strategies and flexible thinking around these facts. We help them build concrete and visual models to understand the relationships between numbers. For instance, understanding that 9x7 can be quickly solved by calculating 10x7 and then subtracting 7 helps students develop effective problem-solving skills.

A solid grasp of multiplication facts becomes especially important when students start working with fractions. For example, determining what 3/4 of 16 is becomes straightforward when students know that 3x4 equals 12, making it clear that 3/4 of 16 is 12. Without this foundational knowledge, even basic fraction problems can become challenging.

As students progress beyond the primary years, multiplication facts are essential for various areas of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, measurement, data and statistics, finance, economics, and proportional reasoning.

So, how can you support your Grade 3-6 students in mastering their multiplication facts?

Firstly, we want to set students up for maximum success which means learning their multiplication facts in a purposeful order (see below). Each set of facts can be built upon to think flexibly about the succeeding facts.

Secondly, we want their learning to be as effective and efficient as possible so undertaking a Spaced Repetition approach is advised. Research supports the use of this practice, where students review multiplication facts at intervals over time. This method strengthens long-term retention by allowing time for forgetting and relearning, which reinforces memory.

Here’s an example of a practice schedule:

Encourage students to monitor their progress and remember to reward their effort with verbal praise. By supporting your child in mastering multiplication facts, you’re helping to set them up for long-term success in mathematics and beyond.

Just a note on F-2 students…

In our early years classrooms, we lay the groundwork for learning multiplication facts by focusing on counting patterns, ensuring students are confident in counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s. If you have a student in F-2, practicing skip-counting with them is an excellent way to support their progression towards mastering multiplication facts in the middle years. Keep an eye out for our next article, where we’ll share tips on how to encourage flexible thinking and understanding number bonds with your F-2 student.

*Calculate Education. Multiplication Strategies. Calculate, 2020, https://calculate.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2020/02/multiplication-strategies-1.pdf.