Times Tables Rock Stars

Every week pupils are set a target of completing a minimum of 10 minutes on Times Table Rockstars in Garage mode. This then unlocks the other game modes. Pupils can play 1, 2 or 3 minute games.

The weekly Sessions will help your child to remember their tables and ensure they are quick at recalling the facts.

Learners play in the Garage or the Arena and begin with the first set of questions (1×10 up to 4×10). When they can answer at a rate of 20 per minute, TTRS introduce the next set of questions. As learners progress, ATM brings missing number questions and division facts. So the first 9 levels, look like this:

Level 1: 1×10 to 4×10
Level 2: 10×1 to 10×4
Level 3: A mix of 1 and 2
Level 4: 10×?=10 to 10×?=40
Level 5: ?×10=10 to ?×10=40
Level 6: A mix of 4 and 5
Level 7: 10÷10 to 40÷10
Level 8: 10÷1 to 40÷4
Level 9: A mix of 7 and 8

Then the process repeats for 5×10 to 8×10 and once more for 9×10 to 12×10 before moving onto the next table and starting the process again.

Once they have a few tables under their belt, ATM combines them for a while, to consolidate recall, and then brings in a fresh table. The process repeats – all the while giving plenty of opportunity to revisit prior learning, by adding in earlier tables and giving due weight to the facts we know learners struggle with the most – until your learner has become a Rock Star at all the tables!

Tables are typically presented and learnt in this order: 10, 2, 5, 3, 4, 8, 6, 7, 9, 11 and lastly 12.

They start by playing a game called Gig. Gig games diagnose each learner’s abilities on the tables and then determine which table they need to practise first.

TTRS requires that they are able to recall the answers quickly and accurately. If they are given a table you think they already know it might have been because they entered the answers too slowly when they did a gig. They should work through the levels until they are ready to play another Gig. Or if you are sure they have made a mistake or their Gig was interrupted, email the school so we can fast forward them to the next gig.

• By getting an average speed of 3 seconds or less per question
• By answering at least 20 questions correctly a minute (i.e. 20 correct answers in a 1 minute game, 40 in 2 minutes, or 60 in 3 minute games).

If they seem to be stuck, watch them playing the game. Are they losing focus? Are they struggling to find the keys? The fastest players use the Number pad (on the right). We teach children to turn NumLock on and encourage all children to use the Number pad to enter answers.

Gig replaces the Garage mode when learners have completed a sufficient number of levels. You cannot find ‘Gig’ mode. Gig is the game mode for:

• Establishing a baseline
• Periodically checking on progress
• Determining which table a learner needs to prioritise
• Establishing a Baseline

A baseline is an initial assessment of a learner’s ability. Our baseline measurement is a score out of 100, which is simply derived from the number of correct answers given to 100 questions. A Gig game lasts a maximum of 5 minutes even if there are questions remaining.

Periodically checking on progress

Once learners have a baseline, if they repeat the same test in the future, the scores can be used to measure progress from one timepoint to the next. In fact, the system is designed for everyone to play a Gig every time they “complete a table” on our Auto Training course (approx every 30-45 levels).

Determining which table a learner needs to prioritise

As learners go through a Gig game, they’re tested on the 10s, 2s, 5s, 3s, 4s…etc in a more-or-less age-expected order. TTRS uses their performance data from each of the tables to place them on the highest priority table when playing in the Garage. Every time they play a Gig, they will be put through their paces in the same way and each time, our system will work out where they go next. That could mean they repeat a table or it could mean they carry on. Note that it’s not simply a score out 100 that determines this, it’s how they do on each table. So one person may score 70 and another 60 yet the first one continues on a lower Auto level. That will be because they underperformed on the easier tables and so need to go back to them.

Watch your child use Times Table Rockstars and get to know the difficulties they are having:

• Speed of recall? If so, regular practise is needed.
• Is it speed of typing the answer? More practise and perhaps help to use the number pad on the keyboard.
• Is it lack of knowledge? Try writing out the times table. Look at the digits. Look at the patterns. Talk about the facts they do know and use these to learn new facts.
• Do they know many facts from the table – but only need to learn the a few facts in each table? Focus on learning 3-4 facts at a time. Practise them on the way to school. Make up a rhyme or another way of remembering it. Stick up the fact on the fridge or wall home until it is learnt well.

Classroom teaching does not provide enough time for children to learn their times tables well enough to be able to have fluent recall by the end of Year 4. This is similar to reading. Children need to read at home regularly with an adult to develop fluency. Children also need to practise their times table regularly because they are expected to be able to quickly recall any times table facts (up to 12×12) by the end of Year 4 so they can keep up with the teaching and learning in class.

We recommend the Automatic Training Mode on Times Table Rockstars. This involves an occasional test (called a Gig) and then the game setting a suitable times table for your child to learn. They then practise using Garage mode. Once they have played 10 minutes of Garage, they can also enjoy the other game modes. Garage and Arena though are the best for children who are still learning their tables or are developing their speed.