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Teaching Times Tables: A Step-by-Step Guide

By John Cabardo 2 min read Math Grade 3

Learn the smartest order to teach times tables, the patterns that make them easier, and how to practice until facts feel automatic.

Grid of dots illustrating multiplication arrays

Knowing the times tables by heart makes almost every later math topic easier: division, fractions, area, even algebra. But memorizing 144 facts can feel overwhelming. The good news is that children don’t need to learn them all separately.

With a smart order and a focus on patterns, the list shrinks quickly.

Start with understanding

Before any memorizing, make sure your child knows what multiplication means. Use arrays: 3 rows of 4 buttons shows 3 × 4. Then turn the array sideways to show it’s also 4 × 3. This single idea, that order doesn’t matter, cuts the number of facts to learn nearly in half.

A sensible order

  1. ×10, ×5 and ×2. Patterns make these easy: add a zero, end in 5 or 0, and double.
  2. ×1 and ×0. Quick to explain, and they appear in every table.
  3. ×4 and ×3. ×4 is “double, double”. For ×3, relate each fact to ×2: 3 × 7 is 2 × 7 plus one more 7.
  4. ×9 and ×11. For ×9, the digits of the answer add to 9 (up to 9 × 10), and the tens digit is one less than the number you’re multiplying. ×11 up to 9 simply repeats the digit.
  5. ×6 and ×8. ×6 is ×3 doubled. ×8 is ×4 doubled.
  6. ×7 and ×12. By this point, most of these facts are already known from other tables. 7 × 8 = 56 is often the last hold-out, so give it extra attention.

Practice that works

Retrieval beats rereading. Children remember facts better when they try to recall them, as with quizzes, flashcards and worksheets, than when they read or chant a table from start to finish.

Mix it up. Once a table is familiar, practice it mixed with others. Chanting in order lets children use the previous answer as a clue, so mixed practice checks real recall.

Little and often. Five minutes a day is plenty. Use a printable multiplication worksheet focused on one table, then a quick round of the times-table quiz for mixed review.

How do I know a fact is “known”?

A fact is known when your child can answer within about three seconds without counting up. If they need to skip-count to get there, it isn’t automatic yet. That’s fine. It just needs a bit more practice.

Keeping it positive

Timed tests make some children anxious, so use them sparingly and focus on beating a personal best rather than a class ranking. Celebrate each new table learned, and keep a simple chart on the fridge. Coloring in a box for each table mastered is surprisingly motivating.

Put it into practice