Multiplication Success for Dyslexic & Dyscalculia

The Growing Reality: Understanding Concepts Without Fast Recall

More and more parents and tutors are seeing a similar challenge — bright students, even in middle school, can solve fractions and understand math concepts but struggle to recall multiplication facts quickly.

In communities discussing dyslexia and dyscalculia, countless adults admit they never fully memorized the times tables — and still thrived in advanced math, careers, and daily life. The takeaway? Understanding multiplication concepts matters more than rote memorization.

Why Memorization Stalls for Some Learners

If your child can’t memorize the times tables, it’s not laziness — it’s neurology. Many dyslexia and dyscalculia learners face these barriers:

• Working-memory overload: rote drills can overwhelm cognitive bandwidth.

• Visual processing differences: digits can blur or appear similar, making charts hard to follow.

• Aphantasia or weak imagery: “seeing” numbers doesn’t help everyone.

• Different learning strengths: dyslexic learners often excel in reasoning and patterns rather than speed drills.

Mindset shift: If memorization isn’t working, don’t push harder — change the method.

What Works: Parent-Approved, Research-Backed Multiplication Help

1️⃣ Concept First, Recall Later

Visual, Story-Based Mnemonics (Right-Brain Learning)

Many families swear by Times Tales™, a story-based multiplication program where numbers become characters in a story, which then easily triggers the answer.
For example: “Mrs. Snowman standing on a chair to reach her 3 buttons and 2 mittens” helps recall 8 (Mrs. Snowman) ×4 (chair)=32.

This visual mnemonic multiplication method helps dyslexic and dyscalculia learners remember facts without stress.

Other visual learning tools:

• Number blocks songs (BBC)

• Color-coded “multiplication rainbows”

• Dyslexia-friendly fonts (OpenDyslexic, Comic Sans)

Watch 30 second video below to see this visual learning method to memorize the times tables in action.

Keep watching till the end to see the 3 year old spout off the answers to 7×7 and 12×12.

LEARN MORE about the Times Tales Method of Multiplication Mastery!

Gentle Auditory Supports (If They Like Them)

Try catchy songs or rhythmic chants (like Schoolhouse Rock or YouTube remixes).
But remember: auditory tricks help some, not all — let your child choose.

 Accommodations That Protect Confidence

Accommodations aren’t “crutches” — they’re bridges for access:

• Allow calculator use once the concept is clear.

• Provide times table charts or references.

• Skip speed tests; allow untimed quizzes.

• Use dyslexia-friendly worksheets with clear spacing and color cues.

Result: Less anxiety, more motivation — and steady math progress.

A Balanced View: Do We Really Need to Memorize?

Some say memorization doesn’t matter; others value fluency.
Both are true.

For dyslexic and dyscalculic students, multiplication fluency can develop through patterns, stories, and mnemonics instead of drills.
Even if recall never becomes automatic, understanding the concept plus accommodations can carry your learner successfully through fractions, division, and algebra.

A Gentle 4-Week Plan for Multiplication Success

Week 1: Concept & Confidence

• Build arrays and groups.

• Use repeated addition, no timers.

• Learn 2s, 5s, 10s, and 11s.

Week 2: Patterns & Visuals

• Teach 9s (10× minus one).

• Use composition tricks (7s = 5× + 2×).

• Start Times Tales™ Part 1.

Week 3: Story & Application

• Continue Times Tales™ Part 2.

• Apply facts to real-world math — snacks, shopping, recipes.

Week 4: Choice-Based Fluency

• Let them pick their favorite method: songs, stories, charts.

• Add testing accommodations as needed.

• Measure accuracy and strategy — not speed.

Motivation & Mindset: Protect the Joy of Math

Adults with dyslexia often remember the shame more than the math.
Let’s rewrite that story.

✅ Praise effort and strategy, not speed.
✅ Validate frustration (“This is hard, and you’re trying—win!”).
✅ Keep goals small (“Master three new facts this week”).
✅ Use games, dice, or ball tosses for engagement.

Building confidence is the real lesson.

Quick FAQ

Is it okay to use a calculator?
Absolutely — once concepts are clear. Reasoning > recall.

What if memorization never sticks?
Patterns, skip counting, and story methods such as the Times Tales Method (visual recall of the answers) work just as well. Many dyslexic engineers and artists still compute instead of recalling.

Will story methods feel babyish?
Not at all. Older learners appreciate them privately — because they work.

How do I ask for accommodations?
Request visual charts, extra time, reduced tests, and calculator use. Frame it as equal access to show understanding.

A Gentle Recommendation (Parent-Tested, Teacher-Approved)

If your child needs a visual, right-brain approach to mastering upper facts (6s–9s), try Times Tales™ — a dyslexia-friendly multiplication program trusted by thousands of teachers and parents.
It’s quick to implement, reduces frustration, and helps those hard-to-memorize facts finally stick — freeing students to move forward with confidence.