This is the successful activity I developed for intervention for older students who found learning the 3x table a challenge. It was a skill they had not mastered despite worksheets and computer games. The sequence I have described is a general idea of what I do. It is not always exact and I adjust it to the needs of the student as they 'catch on'.

Before you start you must ensure the learner understands the concept of multiplication as being 'lots of'. I do this by taping cheap poker chips together in lots of three, and writing the sequence of multiples as lots are added to the collection. The learner can see them lined up in front of him or her with the multiples written under. Reinforce this by repeating the sequence a few times, then mask one of the multiples (I use wipe off crayons and get the student to write the missing multiple under). You can do this a few times, increasing the number of missing multiples as knowledge develops.

Then you can introduce the Stepping Stones board. The learner uses a wipe-off crayon on the laminated board to trace the sequence. Wipe the sequence off and start to time using the legend I have dreamed up. It has no scientific basis whatsoever, but it works. You will find the learner wants to better their time continuously until they have repeated the exercise many times. At some point you ask the learner to recite the sequence without any cues. Then they write the sequence, usually correctly, though not always quickly.

At this stage the student has not learnt each table in isolation so the link between the sequence and the table is using fingers. I ask them to recite the sequence putting up one finger at a time. 3 x 3 means putting up three fingers and reciting the sequence to the third multiple/finger. You can only do up to 10x3 due to finger limits, but it works okay. With practice they won't need fingers and fluency will improve. The 3x Table Chart includes division and is a good reminder.

This won't work for every intervention student but it will for most. When it works it's amazing. I have had students learn the sequence in under an hour this way and the tables are known by my second session, one week later, as long as there has been some practice in the interim. If parents are on board I send a game home for some family fun time to see who is the fastest. Including it in the classroom is a good option for the same reason.

This game is included with my 3x table bundle for savings and it is a must for Maths Intervention as a school resource. The value of hands-on games and activities complements worksheets and computer games and adds their own benefits in terms of social interaction and fun.