Learning times tables - The Joyful Way

"Times tables" is one of the most important tools for excellence in math. Knowledge and expertise in it gives lots of confidence in math to children. It takes quite a bit of persuasion to make the child do it, especially in the age of calculators. I feel we need to teach not just to learn times tables but also to teach them creative methods and games to learn them with fun. Just use this game for the 5 table - Buzz. Buzz is played only if at least 5 - 6 children participate. The coordinator ( teacher faces the children ) . Seats are arranged preferably in semi - circular manner. The teacher must be able to see and hear all the children. The game can begin with any child. The child has to speak out 1 , the second child 2 , the third child 3 and so on and so forth, the child who has to speak out the multiples of 5 i.e. all numbers ending with zero or 5 will not speak out the number( 5, 10 or 15) but will say the word Buzz and then the turn will go to the next child. If any non 5 or zero number child calls Buzz or the "Buzz" child calls out the number they are out of the game. Advanced version of the game one could also do the same thing with reversing the calling order of numbers like say begin with 50 or hundred and go backwards to call the numbers and reach 1. Readers of my blog please comment on the game and give suggestions to improve upon Buzz.You May use the same idea to learn other tables. But I suggest do it on a different day and also change the word from Buzz to say HO HO HI HI or something popular and easily memorable, fun and having some association with the table you have chosen.