Math anxiety is a real issue for many students. Numerous reasons, such as prior unpleasant math experiences, low self-confidence, or trouble comprehending the subject matter, can contribute to it. Thankfully, a product called Times Tales can help students who struggle with math anxiety or even learning disabilities.
Many Time Tales Reviews explain how it has helped students learn math more effectively. This article will also show you how it helps homeschool students learn multiplication facts in a more engaging and less intimidating way.
Why Learning Multiplication Facts Is Important
Multiplication facts are the basic building blocks of multiplication. They are the combinations of numbers that, when multiplied together, give a specific product. For example, 3 x 4 = 12 is a multiplication fact. It states that 3 multiplied by 4 equals 12. Memorizing multiplication facts is an essential step in learning and understanding multiplication.
Learning multiplication facts is vital for students because it lays the foundation for more advanced math concepts and problem-solving. Quickly recalling multiplication facts allows students to perform more complex calculations more easily and efficiently.
Additionally, a solid understanding of multiplication facts can help students better understand other mathematical operations, such as division, fractions, and algebra. Overall, it allows students to think mathematically, make connections between different mathematical concepts and develop problem-solving skills.
How Does Times Tales Work?
Times Tales is a mnemonic-based method that helps students memorize multiplication facts by associating them with a story or a visual image. It includes books, flashcards, and videos that present stories and images for each multiplication fact.
The stories and images are designed to be memorable and easy to recall, making it simple for students to remember the facts. The goal is to make the learning process more engaging and compelling so students can easily recall the information when needed. The program is commonly used to supplement traditional math instruction and is especially beneficial for students who struggle with memorization.
There are 18 stories for the students to learn in the program, divided into two parts. Part 1 presents lower multiplication facts (3 and 4), while Part 2 contains upper multiplication facts (6, 7, 8, and 9). Each course discusses one of these multiplication facts.
After finishing a session (either the lower or upper), parents are encouraged to spend a week or two practicing the program’s exercises to solidify the student’s comprehension of the subject.
To teach with Times Tales, you can use three approaches: the storybook and workbook, the video, or a combination of the two.
Times Tales Storybook
The storybook comprises narratives and characters that serve as an introduction to multiplication facts. For instance, six is represented by a group of sixth-graders with heads that mimic the number. A brief story and corresponding artwork are provided for each fact (6×3, for example) to aid the students in remembering the product.
The book does not have the most intricate artwork or captivating stories we have ever seen or read. But in general, the illustrations are endearing and memorable. The stories are also brief and simple to recollect. Those qualities are vital to creating an effective mnemonic.
The students can read this storybook easily and should be able to retain the narratives accurately with little effort.
Times Tales Workbook
The workbook is intended to help students embed the mnemonics introduced in the stories. It may include character reviews, quizzes, crossword puzzles, flashcards, in-depth exercises, story questions, and more.
The worksheets are brief, not overly complicated, and include a variety of non-drill tasks. They should be less intimidating for students, especially those with math anxiety.
They employ the same black-and-white aesthetic as the storybooks. So, while they contain some fun images, they aren’t the most interesting.
Times Tales Video
Times Tales also provides video-based learning that can be used in addition to or in place of the books. The video is available on DVD, USB, or via digital streaming.
Parents who have struggled for years to teach their kids math facts probably realize that teaching demands a lot of time and effort. They find they need to do practically everything themselves, including designing the approach or curriculum, conducting research, drilling their kids on what they’ve learned, and so on. Thankfully, this video-based component will make their job as teachers easier.
They just need to play the video and let it do the teaching. An animated instructor narrates the lessons, reads stories, teaches concepts, and sometimes appears suddenly on the screen to guide the students through the course components. Another advantage of this video-based learning component is that it allows the students to study independently without the actual presence of the teacher.
The video is designed for self-study and follows a pattern:
- As with the paper-based approach, students begin by learning and reviewing Times Tales’ characters.
- The next step is to proceed to the animated story narrated by the animated teacher.
- After the story is finished, the narrator will pop up on the screen and provide a quiz akin to one from a game show. This test gauges how well students retain the information by asking them particular questions regarding the story and its sequence.
- When the students correctly answer those questions, they must retell the story in the proper order to their parents. And they must do it in their own words. Consequently, they can assess the success of the mnemonic learning process
- If the students successfully complete the previous task, the video will proceed to a review and reinforcement exercise using flashcards displayed on the screen.
- The numbers are first shown as animated characters and then represented as numbers in an equation.
For Whom Is Times Tales Best Suited?
Students who cannot memorize the times’ tables well. Things can be slightly simpler using the visual mnemonic-based method, which offers an alternative to straightforward memorizing. It allows them to connect more with the subject they are studying.
Students who despise drill and rote tasks. Times Tales uses stories and workbook activities to make math facts more approachable and enjoyable.
Busy parents looking for an effective way to teach math. Times Tales provides a video-based learning component that allows kids to learn independently.
Students who are visual and auditory. Times Tales has graphic stories and narrated videos, making it a fantastic choice for those who learn best through sight or sound.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- It has an engaging learning method without any drills.
- It incorporates various exercises and activities.
- The learning materials are available in paper-based and video formats.
- Its video learning can be accessed online and offline.
- It promotes independent learning.
- The program is simple and easy to operate.
- It promotes strong practice and review.
- It is affordable and has a reusable curriculum. It can be passed on to younger children.
Cons
- It does not cover all multiplication facts. Only 3,4,6,7,8, and 9 multiplication facts are included.
- It is not the best design in terms of aesthetics. While the graphics are designed to be simple and easy to memorize, they could be more colorful and appealing but still not change the nature of learning it promotes.
- A lack of learning speed. It is good that Times Tales does not have a speed drill for students, allowing the parents more time to discern the materials. But on the downside, the student might get used to answering the questions slowly.
Making Math More Approachable and Fun to Learn
Homeschooling math can be challenging for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the parents, as the primary educators, may not have a strong background in math themselves.
They certainly have a mountain to climb to teach the subject effectively. Homeschooled students may also have different learning styles and paces; thus, finding the right curriculum or teaching materials that align with their learning style and level of understanding can be difficult.
The homeschool environment is distinct from that of a typical classroom. Homeschooled students may not have access to the same resources or support systems as students in a traditional classroom setting.
For example, they may not have a math teacher or peer group to work with. The lack of structure and routine in a homeschool environment can make it difficult for students to focus on math and stay on task. Furthermore, the lack of assessments and testing may make it harder for the student to keep track of their progress and for the teacher to measure the student’s understanding of the material.
It’s worth noting that these challenges are common among all parents and educators. This article is only one of many Times Tales reviews available that show how Times Tales provides the right resources and support to address the challenge. Parents can now develop the skills and confidence they need to effectively teach math to their children.