Learn Multiplication and Division With Times Tales (a Schoolhouse Crew Review)

Recently I had an opportunity to review Times Tales from The Trigger Memory Co. It’s a program designed to help students memorize multiplication and division facts. Here’s a glimpse at why I was so excited to review this.

When I was in school, I hated math speed drills. You know the ones I mean- 50 math facts on a page with one minute to see how many you could answer correctly. I was always a grade conscious student, but because I didn’t work well under pressure, I never did well on these speed drills. And I hated that it negatively affected my math grade.

When I began homeschooling, I swung in the other direction to avoid that panicking feeling that always afflicted me. I was determined that I wouldn’t ever do that kind of speed drill testing with my own kids. But I began to notice that a lack of memorization of basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts negatively affected their ability to do more complex math problems.

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And so began my determination to have them memorize the math facts…but in a less intimidating way. My younger set has recently been in the process of making sure that they have multiplication and division facts down. But some of the higher number problems always seemed to stump them. And without being able to come up with a multiplication or division answer quickly, more complex problems dragged out. And chances were much greater that, even if they did the correct process for the longer problem, the answer would be incorrect because of a lack of knowledge of the basic facts.

And so I was thrilled with this opportunity to review Times Tales.

What we received…

We received downloadable files from The Trigger Memory Co.

Two parts of video that teaches the multiplication stories to kids
Two printable packets of worksheet activities- one to correspond with each video segment
An answer key with the worksheet answers

The downloadable files are very convenient for those who don’t want to wait for a physical product to ship. The download bundle can be used for up to five students. Over five students requires a different classroom license.

The Trigger Memory Co. has a physical version of Times Tales as well as other products that enhance the program (and a few non related products as well).

About Times Tales…

I had heard of Times Tales before. Other homeschoolers had used the program and had gushed about how well it worked. But I have to admit that I was a little skeptical.

The program involves teaching the students stories that relate to multiplication facts. As the students memorize the stories, they begin to internalize the answers to the multiplication problems. The program focuses on answers to the upper 3s, 4s, 6s, 7s, 8s, and 9s multiplication facts.

The download bundle didn’t come with any kind of a teacher’s guide. At the beginning of the first video segment, there is an explanation of how to use the program. I was a little confused at first, but we dove into watching segment one and got started.

How we used Times Tales…

I used the program with Ashlyne- age 11- and Rachel- age 10. They are currently beginning to encounter more and more complex math problems, and they both have struggled with multiplication and division facts.

We began with watching the first video segment. Each segment is around 25 minutes long. For the first video, I let them watch half one day and the other half the next. But the second segment they watched in one sitting.

After the first video segment, there is a worksheet packet to complete. In the first video, it is recommended that at least one week be between viewing the first video segment and the second. So during the week break they worked on the worksheets for Part 1.

The video segments each include a narrator telling the students about the various characters (all numbers) and stories that go along with each. At the end of each segment is a Times Tales game show to review.

The worksheets that the girls did included a crossword that helped them to remember the stories as well as sheets that practice the multiplication facts, flashcards to make and game materials for practicing facts.

What we thought…

I have to admit that I’ve been impressed. When the girls first began watching the first segment they were skeptical. The show is animated, and the association of letters with people and the stories themselves all seem kind of corny at first. But as we watched, they began to catch on to what was happening and what they were learning. (You can see a demo of the video on the physical product page on The Trigger Memory Co. site.)

The fact that the stories are funny and somewhat corny is part of what helps them to stick in the minds of the kids. And, because the stories stick, the multiplication facts associated with them begin to stick as well. The whole process really, really works.

I kind of wished there had been a lesson plan of sorts to better explain how to use the worksheets. But we are pretty flexible, so I was able to find a way that seemed to work well for us. I did like that there was some instruction at the beginning of the first video to point us in the right direction.

All in all, I think that Times Tales is a very unique program that really does work to help kids learn multiplication facts. It can increase their speed and accuracy which really helps as they are working more complicated problems.

Other Schoolhouse Crew members reviewed Times Tales. You can see what they thought below.