Times Tales is fun little system helps children associate a simple story with each of the upper multiplication facts. Covering from 6x6 to 9x9, it uses uncluttered illustrations and just a few lines of text to link the factors to the product.
The style is reminiscent of Bob Books, and like Bob Books, the method is a little bit silly. As with all ingenious ideas, the author has done a fantastic job of keeping it all deceptively simple: just 4 characters and 10 illustrations.
Each story is only 1 sentence long. Basically, you introduce the child to the 4 characters, each of whom bears a remarkable resemblance to one of the numbers 6-9. Then you read the stories one at a time, taking a few minutes to discuss, repeat and reinforce the details. As you move through each step of the program, the story elements are incrementally peeled away until only the math fact is remaining.
To an adult mind it may seem like more work to learn the characters and stories than to just memorize the facts, but I don't think children would agree. Our fidgety 6yo learned all of the stories and characters in one sitting, and within 3 practice sessions she has learned all of the upper multiplication facts.
Never mind that she is just beginning to add; the facts are stored away for future reference because the system was so fun she wanted to learn and practice. Times Tales was far easier and more enjoyable than drills and practice sheets, and I suspect she will retain them for far longer.
If that doesn't convince you, then consider that our just-turned-5yo is learning them almost as quickly, and she's not even beginning to add yet. She thinks that division is even more fun.
The Times Tales program includes a sturdy spiral bound book of card stock pages; simple instructions and teaching tips; perforated flashcards with a unique twist of their own; games for reinforcement; and tests for those who want to record progress.
I just have to mention how much I love that the number 8 is represented by a snowman. This reminds me of our own memory trigger when our skinny Lydia was struggling to remember the numbers 8, 9 and 10:

Eight looks like a snowman.
Nine looks like a "g."
Ten looks like a fat man
Standing next to me.

This is a fun approach that our kids love. Since it involves seeing, hearing, and saying stories, and concrete characters and events with to associate each multiplication fact, it seems to appeal equally to all 3 basic types of learners: visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

It's easy enough that I (The Hater of Canned Curricula) wasn't at all put off by it, and my 5yo and 6yo begged to "play" it. The 8 and 9yo picked up on the concepts as well, using the stories to remind them of the particular facts that they have trouble with. Even the 2yo knows the number 9 character by name.

We really enjoyed reviewing Times Tales, and it has definitely found a place in our home for the next several children.

Labels: homeschooling