Some GT mathy kids are not interested in the rote memorization required of multiplication tables. They understand the concept but hate the memorization. Developing Math Talent by Susan Assouline points out this contradiction in terms observed in GT kids. They point out in the book that sometimes you just need to move on and let the child see the relevancy of learning multiplication tables for quicker solving of other problems. I think there are others who are or have been on this board who saw their child become independently motivated to learn the times tables when they saw the relevancy and were slowed down on harder problems.
Making it fun is certainly helpful. MrWiggly likes the MathBlasters computer game for math facts. We also play a game of math questions - he just likes it when I give him a problem and he has to solve it in his head. Sometimes it takes him awhile but he's working on it and eventually gets it. That has helped his memorization a lot. He HATES the timed tests and homework, doesn't always do well with them and cannot stand to do rote memorization. But we just had him tested and were told that he is profoundly gifted in math. So don't necessarily take what you are seeing as a sign that he is not gifted in math. Perhaps he's just slower at processing it.
