Here is a handy way to inspire pupils to learn their times tables. I printed the tables out on a couple of sheets of A4 paper, but this proved too unwieldy. So I made them more manageable by printing and laminating them in business card size. Pupils can put them on to a key ring to carry around and practise their tables at any time. For keen word searchers, make up times tables worksheets using http:puzzlemaker.school.discovery.comchooseapuzzle.html. Answers for each times table are given in both words and numbers.

A variation on the theme is to enter a list of numbers. The pupil can find a number and then write out a multiplication to which it is the answer Anne Bruce is an adult literacy volunteer tutor in Scotland