When was the last time you tested your child on their times tables? This is the perfect time for them to review them if they have forgotten it. Let them write them down and use note cards to test them. It is the most frustrating thing for them if they have to use a calculator to find out what 6 x 8 is before they solve their math word problem in 7th grade.
And believe me, in my 10 years of mentoring youth in middle school, most still haven't memorized their tables. Unfortunately, I've seen that even in SAT prep sessions. When you have only 25 minutes to solve 20 math problems, how sad is it that you have to waste your time to calculate the product first.
Most likely if they do not know their tables, they will also fall behind in other areas of Math and will eventually decrease their confidence in solving problems. So regardless of what grade your child is, TEST their knowledge of the multiplication tables. Make sure they can say it without thinking about it. Your persistence at an early age will help them throughout their lives.
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