When it comes to teaching your child the basics of mathematics and specifically the times tables some parents feel lost. This simple concept that most of us eventually grasp so well can be quite difficult for a child who is just starting out on the learning journey. One way to help your son or daughter is to work with him or her at home. To help you get started we have developed this guide.

Why help with learning the times tables?

In a study performed by Thienhuong Hoang of the California Polytechnic University CPU Learning and Instruction in Mathematics: A Study of Achievement in Saigon Vietnam it was found that there is a direct correlation between learning and two other elements both of which have a direct effect on academic results:

middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; the interaction level between students and teachers at school; and

middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; the amount of homework children undertake.

As a parent you cant control the interactivity at school without changing schools but you can ensure that your child undertakes meaningful study at home. In doing so you can ensure that he or she grasps the basics of mathematics including the times tables. The CPU study showed that the home elements of learning affect a childs grade by about 25. This is very significant by any measure and should give you confidence that you can assist your child maximise grades by assisting with learning.

Steps to helping with learning the times tables

There are a few simples things you can do to help your child with learning the times tables at home:

1. Have high expectations: A students performance in school often directly relates to his or her parents expectations. Ensuring you clearly lay out what you expect is important to your childs success.
2. Be a math advocate: A positive attitude towards math on your part will help your child to develop a love for the subject. Conversely a negative attitude will often lead to disdain and disinterest.
3. Support your child in learning: Setting up time to study working with your child and staying positive throughout the learning process are all important in giving your son or daughter the support needed to learn and to feel good about learning.
4. Provide useful tools to learn with: One of the most important elements to help a child correctly grasp the times tables is repetition and testing. This neednt take a lot of your time. There are simple tools such as our own Times Table Tutor which add visual and technological elements to aid in memorisation and recall.

Home involvement with your childs learning doesnt need to be difficult. Getting involved though is a great start in helping with learning such key concepts as the times tables. A proper grasp of these concepts is paramount to your childs success as a math student right throughout the school years and beyond into later life.

About the Author: Greg O'Connor a qualified teacher runs a business consultancy specialising in designing and constructing very complex customised financial models for a wide range of businesses. He has combined his spreadsheeting skills and teaching experience to develop the Times Tables Tutor www.timestablestutor.com a highly innovative fully automated spreadsheetbased Excel times tables learning tool. With all features operated at the click of a button Times Tables Tutor is incredibly easy to use even for parents and children who have never used a spreadsheet before. This is the second in a series of five articles offering suggestions to parents on how they can assist their kids to master the times tables.