Tales From Teaching

Why don’t we call them times tables?

Hopefully, if your child is in Yr 2 or above, you have heard them talking about multiplication facts or they have corrected you if you have mentioned times tables. Referring to multiplication facts as times tables is extremely common, some teachers and schools still call them times tables. At KPS we have made a very conscious decision to explicitly teach our students to call them Multiplication Facts, rather than Times Tables. Why have we done this?

Concepts in Mathematics are complex and, in many cases, abstract. Our use of language in mathematics is an important tool in supporting our students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the concepts they are learning about. Unfortunately a lot of the words we use in mathematics are shared with English but can have different meanings, similar meanings or more than one meaning. 

Some words are only used in maths eg. numerator, trapezoid

Some are used in maths and other subjects, eg. variable

Some words are homophones, which sound the same but have different meanings eg eight/ate, sum/some, rows/rose.

All of these complexities add to the possibility of confusion and the development of misunderstandings or misconceptions for our students as they grapple with learning in maths. It is for this reason that we use the term Multiplication facts instead of Times Tables, because really when you think about it, what is a times table? This term could easily be confused with a public transport  or school timetable, times can be misunderstood as referring to the time of day etc. 

So we ask that you please also try and use the language of Multiplication Facts rather than Times Tables with your child as they practise their recall and fluency with you at home.

 Sam

Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning