User guide

Tablito.

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The principles

Tablito is not just a quiz. Every design choice is grounded in research from cognitive psychology and mathematics education. Five pillars hold the app together:

  • Spaced repetition — the Leitner boxes. Each fact lives in one of five boxes numbered from 1 (just learned) to 5 (firmly anchored). A new fact starts in box 1: it is reviewed the same day. A correct answer moves it up one box and pushes the next review further out: 1 day in box 2, 3 days in box 3, 7 days in box 4, 21 days in box 5. A mistake sends it back to box 1, long enough to re-anchor it. The child reviews each fact just before forgetting it, with longer and longer intervals — far more durable than cramming in a single evening. Kang (2016) ; Cepeda et al. (2008) ; Rea & Modigliani (1985)
  • Low interference. Facts that look alike (same operand, close answers) are never introduced in the same week. A session contains only facts dissimilar enough that the child won't confuse them in memory. Dotan & Zviran-Ginat (2022)
  • Interleaving. The tables are mixed within a single session rather than worked through one after another. The child has to reach for the right operation at every question, which solidifies long-term recall. Rohrer & Taylor (2007) ; Rohrer, Dedrick & Burgess (2014)
  • Understand before memorizing. Each new fact is first shown as a grid of dots (repeated addition), then through commutativity (3 × 5 = 5 × 3), and finally with a derivation trick suited to it (× 9 = × 10 − n, × 4 = double-double, × 6 = × 5 + n, etc.). A few anchor facts (doubles, × 5, × 9, squares) support the derived ones. The scaffolding fades away once recall becomes automatic. Van de Walle via Wichita Public Schools (2014) ; Brendefur et al. (2015)
  • Progress-oriented feedback, not performance. No numeric score on the child's side, no stars computed from a success rate: only steady encouragement and a spotlight on the facts learned. The goal is intrinsic motivation and mastery, not the grade. The raw numbers stay available in the parent area. Butler (1988) ; Hattie & Timperley (2007)

Details and rationale in the functional specifications (in French).

Welcome

On the very first launch, a four-step welcome:

  • The mascot introduces itself.
  • The child's name.
  • An introduction to the placement test.
  • The test: 15 well-spread questions.

Facts already known start straight in the higher Leitner boxes.

The mascot introduces itself to the child.
The mascot introduces itself to the child.
Entering the name.
Entering the name.
Announcing the placement test.
Announcing the placement test.
Placement test (15 questions).
Placement test (15 questions).

Home screen

Where every day starts.

  • The mascot welcomes the child, cheers correct answers, encourages after a mistake. It never judges.
  • The flame counts days in a row.
  • The big button starts the day's session.
  • The bottom bar opens the mystery picture, the badges and the ×1 / ×10 rules.
  • The gear opens the parent area, behind a small multiplication.

Once all the tables are mastered, the day's session moves on to division by itself: no new button.

Home screen with the mascot and the 5-day streak.
Home screen with the mascot and the 5-day streak.

The session

12 to 15 questions, a few minutes.

  • A new fact is first shown in three steps: a grid of dots (repeated addition), swapping the factors (3×5 = 5×3), then a trick (“× 9 is × 10 minus one”).
  • Answers with the keypad or by voice. A button below the keypad switches mode, and the choice is remembered.
  • Quick correct answer: a golden star.
  • Mistake: the right answer, the grid of dots, the trick if the fact is recent. The question comes back a little later.
Introducing a new fact — step 1: grid of dots and repeated addition.
Introducing a new fact — step 1: grid of dots and repeated addition.
Introduction — step 3: a derivation trick to memorize the fact.
Introduction — step 3: a derivation trick to memorize the fact.
Standard question and keypad.
Standard question and keypad.
Voice mode — the child says their answer out loud. Switchable at any time.
Voice mode — the child says their answer out loud. Switchable at any time.
Quick correct answer — golden star.
Quick correct answer — golden star.
Incorrect answer — grid of dots and a reminder of the trick.
Incorrect answer — grid of dots and a reminder of the trick.

Session recap

At the end of every session:

  • The day's new facts, if any.
  • Progress: a “X facts known out of 36” bar.
  • The mystery picture to go and see, with a mention when it has changed.
  • Confetti for a mastered table, a completed picture or a new badge.
Recap of a session with a progress bar.
Recap of a session with a progress bar.

My mystery picture

An 8×8 grid (tables 2 to 9): each cell is a piece of a hidden picture.

  • The better a fact is known, the sharper its cell: blurry silhouette, flat color, colors, shadows, details. One step per Leitner box.
  • A forgotten fact blurs a little again, with no notion of failure.
  • All 36 facts mastered: the picture is fully revealed.

At the top, the discovered / mastered / total counts.

The mystery picture revealing itself as progress is made.
The mystery picture revealing itself as progress is made.

Level 2 — division

Once all the tables are mastered (the “Times tables genius” badge), the same facts come back the other way round: “56 ÷ 7 = ?”.

  • The trick is taught: for 56 ÷ 7, look for “7 times what makes 56?”.
  • Step by step: divisions arrive in the same order as the tables, easiest first.
  • One session: it switches to division, and slips in a few tables to maintain.
  • A new mystery picture. “My picture” becomes “My pictures”; the tables picture stays earned.

Everything else (Leitner boxes, encouragement) works as for the tables.

Once the tables are mastered, “My picture” becomes “My pictures” (multiplications + divisions).
Once the tables are mastered, “My picture” becomes “My pictures” (multiplications + divisions).
In the parent area, the Math card moves on to division; multiplication, mastered, stays checked off.
In the parent area, the Math card moves on to division; multiplication, mastered, stays checked off.
Introducing a division: “think of the multiplication”.
Introducing a division: “think of the multiplication”.
Division question on the keypad.
Division question on the keypad.
A mystery picture dedicated to division, distinct from the tables one.
A mystery picture dedicated to division, distinct from the tables one.

Level 3 — division with remainders

Once every division is mastered, division that doesn't come out even: “45 ÷ 7 = 6 r 3”, the skill expected at the end of grade 3.

  • The trick: find the multiple just below, without going over. What's missing is the remainder.
  • Two steps: “How many times?”, then “What's left over?”.
  • Never the same sum: the number to divide changes on every review. Sometimes the remainder is zero: up to the child to spot it.
  • A third mystery picture. Tables and divisions keep being maintained in the same session.
Introducing a division with remainder: the full rows, and the dots that "don't fit" — the remainder.
Introducing a division with remainder: the full rows, and the dots that "don't fit" — the remainder.
Answering in two steps: the validated quotient settles into the formula, then "What's left over?".
Answering in two steps: the validated quotient settles into the formula, then "What's left over?".
A third mystery picture, dedicated to division with remainders.
A third mystery picture, dedicated to division with remainders.
The parent area's Math page opens on the current level: "Remainders" joins the level selector (mastery and Leitner grid).
The parent area's Math page opens on the current level: "Remainders" joins the level selector (mastery and Leitner grid).

The badges

Badges to mark the way.

  • Milestones: first session, 7 days, 30 days.
  • Performance: 10 correct answers in a row, 5 answers under 2 s.
  • Mastery: one badge per table, then “Times tables genius”. Division adds its own.

Each badge opens on its condition and, while still locked, a progress bar.

Badge collection — earned and still to unlock.
Badge collection — earned and still to unlock.
Tapping a locked badge reveals the condition and the progress.
Tapping a locked badge reveals the condition and the progress.

The ×1 and ×10 rules

Two rules given up front, so they don't have to be learned by heart:

  • × 1: the number doesn't change.
  • × 10: the digits slide one place to the left, a 0 takes the ones place.
  • × 11, a bonus once tables 2 to 9 are mastered: repeat the digit (3 × 11 = 33). A “New” dot flags it.

These tables are therefore not among the 36 facts to learn.

Rules for ×1 and ×10.
Rules for ×1 and ×10.

Parent area

Open it from the gear on the home screen, after a small multiplication that checks an adult is behind the screen. From top to bottom:

  • Today. Has the session been done? The last 14 days, sessions, streaks.
  • The week. Days practised, accuracy, speed, facts that moved up, compared with the week before.
  • One card per subject. The current level and its mastery bar. Tap it for the subject's page: boxes, Leitner grid, trends, session history.
  • Needs practice. The three toughest facts right now, with an idea to help at home.
  • Settings. Remote follow, profiles and backup, daily reminder, language, help.

A question, a problem, an idea? The “Send feedback” button, top right.

The parent area overview starts with the day.
The parent area overview starts with the day.
The week at a glance, in sentences, then one card per subject.
The week at a glance, in sentences, then one card per subject.
The Math page: level mastery box by box, the Leitner grid, then the sessions.
The Math page: level mastery box by box, the Leitner grid, then the sessions.
The settings, at the bottom of the overview: one row per setting.
The settings, at the bottom of the overview: one row per setting.

Several children

One tablet for the whole family: each child has their own profile, progress, badges, streak and pictures.

  • Add a child: from the parent area (“Profiles and backup”) or the “Who's playing?” screen.
  • With two or more profiles, the app asks “Who's playing?” on launch, and a button at the top of the home screen switches player. With one, nothing changes.
  • In the parent area, one chip per child, including those followed remotely, without switching player.
  • “Profiles and backup”: move to another device, export or import a backup, delete a profile.
“Who's playing?” — the selection screen shown on launch with two or more profiles.
“Who's playing?” — the selection screen shown on launch with two or more profiles.
The “switch player” button appears at the top of the home screen, next to the gear.
The “switch player” button appears at the top of the home screen, next to the gear.
In the parent area, one chip per child: see each one's progress without switching player.
In the parent area, one chip per child: see each one's progress without switching player.
The “Profiles and backup” page of the parent area: the children on this device, then the active profile's backup.
The “Profiles and backup” page of the parent area: the children on this device, then the active profile's backup.