Is TimesTables.com the Best Way to Learn Multiplication? (We Tested the Alternatives)
Let’s be honest: learning times tables can feel like trying to teach a goldfish to tap dance—possible, but deeply confusing for everyone involved. So, is TimesTables.com the glittery, fish-sized top hat of multiplication tools? We threw spaghetti at the wall (and some actual math) to find out. Spoiler: the wall lost.
The Contenders (Spoiler: One Doesn’t Involve Chanting)
- Old-School Flashcards: Great if you enjoy staring contests with cardboard. Bonus: 30% chance your kid turns them into origami cranes mid-session.
- “Educational” Video Games: Yes, Timmy solved 7×8! Now enjoy 14 minutes of unskippable dragon lore and an in-app purchase for a virtual sword.
- Grandma’s Rhymes: “6 times 6 is 36, now eat your meatloaf!” Charming? Sure. Effective? Only if meatloaf is your learning currency.
Why TimesTables.com Doesn’t Feel Like Math Torture
Unlike singing multiplication tables in the voice of a disgruntled flamingo (looking at you, other apps), TimesTables.com keeps it simple. No explosions. No rogue dragons. Just clean, crispy drills that don’t require explaining why a cartoon unicorn is discussing the distributive property. Plus, the progress tracker lets parents know if little Jenny actually practiced—or just stared at the screen whispering “I will not cry” for 20 minutes.
Is it the best? Well, we haven’t tested “learning via interpretive dance” yet (patent pending). But until someone reinvents math as a cupcake-baking simulator, TimesTables.com might just be the sanity-saving hero your household needs. And no, you don’t have to bribe kids with meatloaf. Probably.
How to Master Times Tables Fast: 7 Science-Backed Strategies That Beat Rote Memorization
1. Turn Numbers into Unforgettable Characters (Yes, Really)
Science says your brain adores stories, not sterile digits. So, give 7×6 a personality. Imagine 7 as a hyperactive kangaroo hoarding 6 tacos in its pouch. Now 7×6=42 becomes “Kangaroo Taco Heist” – way harder to forget than a flashcard. Bonus points if you sketch this nonsense. Your hippocampus will thank you.
2. The “Spaced Repetition Shuffle” (For the Easily Bored)
Cramming is like feeding your brain a burrito in one bite—messy and ineffective. Instead, use spaced repetition apps that ambush you with times table questions when you least expect it. Brushing teeth? 7×8! Waiting for microwave popcorn? 12×4! It’s like a math pop quiz hosted by a mischievous squirrel.
3. Dance Like No One’s Judging (But your Times Tables Are)
Researchers found movement boosts memory. So, choreograph a “Multiplication Macarena”: 3 hops for 3×4=12, 12 jazz hands for 12×1=12. Awkward? Absolutely. Effective? Shockingly, yes. Pro tip: Blast YMCA while doing this. You’re not dancing; you’re “kinesthetic learning.”
4. Weaponize Bad Jokes & Worse Puns
Why did 6 hate 7? Because 7 ate 9… and also because wordplay makes math sticky. Create ridiculous mnemonics: “Five five twenty-five! That’s the speed limit for bees!” The dumber, the better—your brain clings to absurdity like a cat to a ceiling fan.
5. Gamify with “Math Roulette” (No Actual Risk)
Write times tables on ping-pong balls, toss them into a salad spinner, and shout answers as they fly. Loser does the dishes. It’s chaos with a side of calculus—and studies show competition boosts retention. Plus, you’ll finally use that salad spinner.
6. Teach a Stuffed Animal (Or a Suspiciously Quiet Plant)
Explaining concepts to a “student” (real or plush) forces your brain to organize info. Grab a teddy bear, announce “Today, Professor Fluffy, we’ll decode 8×7,” and pretend they’re clueless. Warning: Side effects may include newfound respect for teachers.
7. Sing It Like a Disco Anthem
Set times tables to vintage disco beats. “Stayin’ Alive” becomes “7×7 is 49, ah ha ha ha!” Melodies act as mental glue—just ask anyone who accidentally memorized the Macarena lyrics in 1996. Volume up, shame down. Neighbors might join in. Or call the cops. Either way, you’ll remember.
