Here's the idea - taking it in turns start counting at one but instead of saying any of the 3 times tables say 'fizz' and for a five times tables you say 'buzz'. Fizz Buzzįizz Buzz is more for car journeys than the kitchen table. If not perhaps one learner can add the dice while the other has to multiply. You can play the dice and card games with 2 learners but they need to be roughly at the same level. Gradually reduce the time allowed so that the answers pop out almost instantly. Roll the dice and the learner answers as fast as they can. The game works just like the playing card game. So ideally you'll want to get your hands on a pair of 10 sided dice. You can play this with normal cubic dice, but they will only get you as far as 6 x 6 = 36. You can also remove some 'easier' cards like 2, 3, 5, 10 from the pack if you want to focus on the harder tables. You can gradually decrease the answer time when the learner is ready - so answer before 5, 3, 2 seconds or dealer wins!

The idea is to speed up recall of times tables so introduce a speed requirement. If they get it right they keep the cards, wrong and the dealer gets them. Like 'Snap', each person deals a card and the learner shouts out the correct answer. Then shuffle the pack and split it into 2 piles - one for you and one for your child. Take a pack of playing cards and remove all the picture cards including the aces.

They're fun and a great way to speed up multiplication tables. Despite being an educational technology geek, at home I also play some traditional maths games with the kids. In this article I'll suggest a few 'kitchen table games' that will improve fluency with tables and help learners progress towards fast recall.Īs a parent I've always been concerned about keeping children at the screen for too long - that's why we designed Komodo around short periods of regular use. In last week's post I talked about how 'mastering times tables' means being able to recall them within one or two seconds and I explored how children climb this hurdle.

Times table dice game