Here is how the KTS system works:

Each times table is divided into 4 colour-coded quadrants. Let’s take the 2X table as an example. It is broken up into the Red group (1-3), Green (4-6), Orange (7-9) and Blue (10-12). Each section or quadrant has a picture and story or song that goes with it.

                 

Look at the cartoon or image cluster in the Red group located on this page that contains all of the math facts for 2X1, 2X2 and 2X3. There is a 2-headed monster, a car and a saxophone. These images form a memory device that provides the correct answers. If you are teaching someone the times table, you need to read the story that goes with the cartoon. Once he or she has looked at the picture and read the story, it is important to see if the math facts can be retrieved through this cartoon.

To find out if the student knows the math facts, ask them to retell the story and/or draw the picture. If the student is able to do this, the person assisting uses the thumb and first two fingers of his or her hand to focus the student’s attention on the math facts.

Notice that the thumb (First image) – the 2-headed monster - provides the answer to 2X1. Most children will quickly see the link between 2 heads and 2X1=2 and get the right answer. If there is any hesitation, some coaching can help them along with this approach.

The first finger (2nd image) - the car – provides the answer to 2X2. Children know that a car has 4 wheels so ask them about the number of wheels and help them make the connection. With pride even very young children will be able to guess that the correct answer is 4. I have worked with students in Grade 1 and many are faster than their older siblings at this new game that they are playing.

Finally, the second finger (3rd image) – the saxophone – suggests the answer to 2X3. The saxophone does not readily provide the answer so you have to tell them that it is a hint that sounds like the answer. If you ask them if the answer is 22 or 506, students will tell you that they don’t believe it is. However, when you mention the number 6 the spark of recognition illuminates their eyes, and they get it because six and sax are similar. Hence the saxophone suggests the Six – ophone, or number 6, which is the correct answer for 2X3.
 

Once you have finished with the 3 cartoons and the related story, go over the whole process using your magical thumb and 2 fingers. Ask for the story and the cartoons first. Next, ask for the math facts that these memory devices have helped the children retain. If the child gets them all right, go on to the next quadrant, which will be a different colour, but it will still be based on 3 images in a cluster that will provide the answers to the next set of math facts.
 

The monitoring is an important part of the KTS method because it quickly identifies areas of weakness so that more time can be spent reinforcing confused areas than merely repeating the math facts that are already known.

 

Students can use a variety of means to demonstrate their learning. Multiple Intelligences are encouraged by the KTS method. Student learning is further reinforced by a drill to skill section that tests students’ ability to write down the answers to the entire time table. To prepare them for this section, flash cards are provided as well. However, these special cards don’t merely provide the math fact question. On the back, we provide the colour and clues to help the student retrieve the particular part of the times table required.

The KTS instruction manual is complete. No other resource is needed. Hopefully, it will have as profound an impact on your child or students as it has with the students who have been using it already.

Different children will advance at different rates. Some children may prefer to work in groups. Some students who grasp this system quickly may be able to work by themselves and learn the entire times table in a day or so. My son learned it in three weeks. Everyone is different and will progress at a different rate. The important thing is that the system provides the clues so that everyone has a chance to know the answer instead of being lost and having to wildly guess at the answers.