How learning works
TimesHero is built so that children learn a times table first, then practise it until the answers come quickly. This page explains what your child sees.
The quest map
Section titled “The quest map”The quest map has four areas. Each area has three times tables, shown as stepping stones.
| Area | Tables |
|---|---|
| Emerald Meadow | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Crystal Caverns | 4, 5 and 6 |
| Sun Canyon | 7, 8 and 9 |
| Star Summit | 10, 11 and 12 |
On the free plan, tables 1, 2 and 5 are open. The Lifetime Pass opens all 12.
Learn first, then practise
Section titled “Learn first, then practise”Your child taps a table to open it.
- Step 1 is Learn. It walks through the 12 facts of that table in order, with pictures to count. It has to be finished once.
- After that, the games for that table open.
The games are:
- GridSprint: 12 questions in order. Beat the clock to win medals.
- Mystery Block: find the missing number from 4 choices.
- Speed Drill: quick practice for 1, 2 or 3 minutes.
- Mastery Test: the test described below.
Tests and crowns
Section titled “Tests and crowns”Playing a table does not make it “mastered”. Your child proves it with Mastery Tests.
- A test has the 12 facts of one table.
- Every answer must be right, and each one must come in under about 3 seconds. That means knowing the answer, not counting.
- Your child can try again as often as they like.
- Passing moves the table up one step on a five-step ladder. The tests come back spaced out over about a month: soon at first, then further apart.
- Passing the fifth test earns the table a crown.
- When a test is open, the map shows a Test Ready! sign. When time is running out, it changes to Ending Soon. If a test is missed, the table can slip back one step.
Chests
Section titled “Chests”Each area has two chests.
- The silver chest opens when your child has finished Learn on all three tables in that area.
- The gold chest opens when all three tables in that area have a crown.
Chests give Stars, experience points and a badge.
Hero companions
Section titled “Hero companions”Each child has a hero that grows through five stages as they master more facts. Your child can pet it, play with it and feed it with Stars they earned. The hero’s mood shows how well it is cared for. It never changes your child’s progress or the Stars they earn.
Daily rewarded runs
Section titled “Daily rewarded runs”To stop cramming, a table pays Stars and points for only a few runs a day: 3 runs for a table that is not crowned yet, and 1 run for a crowned table. After that the table is Rested. Your child can still practise it, but that run earns no Stars. It resets at midnight.
Daily free runs on the free plan
Section titled “Daily free runs on the free plan”On the free plan, the games have a daily allowance:
- 1 Speed Drill a day
- 2 GridSprints a day
- 1 Mystery Block a day
The map shows how many are left today. The count starts again the next day. Learn and Mastery Tests do not use up these runs. With the Lifetime Pass there is no daily limit. See Free plan or Lifetime Pass.
What you see as a parent
Section titled “What you see as a parent”Open the Parent Dashboard to see each child’s level, total points, accuracy and number of questions answered. A 12 × 12 grid shows every fact as New, Learning, In Review or Mastered. The By Table (1–12) tab shows each table on its own.
In Settings you can also:
- choose the range of tables to practise,
- turn on the Weekend Learner Schedule, which opens Mastery Tests only on Saturday and Sunday,
- choose how generous Stars are (Relaxed, Standard or Challenging).