How Do You Tell the Time on a Clock?
Did you learn to tell the time at school using worksheets and wall clocks with unclear designs? For some adults, learning to tell time wasn’t straightforward, and they may still struggle with it today. These academic learning processes have been continuously developed over the years to become more accommodating and supportive, so let’s explore the differences between past and present time-telling methods to address the question ‘how do you tell the time on a clock?’.
School-based learning
Before digital clocks were widely available and there was a mobile in everyone’s back pocket to tell you the time, learning to read a clock was the only way to access the time. So, how do you tell the time on a clock? It is likely that you use the ‘past and to’ method, as this is the method often taught in UK schools.
Learning to tell the time in school often involved teacher-led demonstrations of how to read the hour and minute hands on an analogue clock, followed by practice exercises using worksheets. These repetitive methods relied heavily on a child’s ability to memorise and repeat these actions, but did not guarantee that they understood how the placement of the hands signified the ongoing movement of time.
Whilst these methods were no doubt effective for some, these now outdated learning approaches posed challenges for students who struggled with abstract concepts or found it hard to pinpoint which minute the longer hand was pointing to. This lack of certainty left many pupils confused and lacking confidence when telling time and for those who didn’t fully master these skills in school, the struggle often continued into adulthood.
Many adults still find it difficult to read an analogue clock, highlighting the need for new teaching methods that address these challenges, so let’s take a closer look at what resources are now available to support children who are currently learning.
How do you tell the time on a clock?
In 2024, there are a host of digital learning alternatives for almost every topic taught in schools – and this includes learning to read a clock. Schools now have access to a range of digital resources and educational games that cater to various learning styles and make the process more enjoyable for students.
Perhaps your little one has benefitted from an interactive clock animation that they have been able to practise with, or a printed clock with independently moveable hands. The best resources are ones that can be shared across the entire classroom, as this does not put any one pupil on the spot and makes the learning more collaborative and less stressful, and they also offer immediate feedback that helps students to correct mistakes and learn from them on the spot.
Whatever resources your little one benefits from during the school day, it’s important to support their learning and reinforce their new skills at home to make sure that they are able to independently tell the time – so, what interactive tools and resources are available to support children’s learning at home.
Supporting ongoing learning
As is the case with any skill, practice makes perfect. Whether this is after school, at home, or on the go, reinforcing their skills through everyday practice is how children solidify and retain this essential life skill.
Daily practice helps make reading the clock a natural part of their daily routine, and if you yourself struggle to read the time then feel free to join in! The trick is to make the practice feel less like study or practice, and more like an engaging activity. Today’s approach to time-telling has evolved and there are now more interactive elements and tools available to help both children and adults master this essential life skill, including:
1. Time-Teaching Clocks
Specially made to be easy to read and contain all the information that is needed to accurately read the time, these colour-coded clocks are designed to be as clear and accessible as possible and leave no room for confusion or guesswork.
2. Children’s Watches
Support your child’s learning and encourage them to practise their skills by themselves by setting them time-limited tasks or asking them to tell you the time throughout the day.
3. Interactive Alarm Clocks
Whether you opt for a glow in the dark design, a crescendo alarm, or a clock with silent sweep motions, alarm clocks teach children how to set alarms and take responsibility for waking up and going to sleep at the correct time.
4. Cards and Games
Disguise the learning even more by playing time-telling games as a family or using flashcards to internalise their learning through repetition and hands-on engagement.
5. Daily Schedule Charts
Finally, complete your child’s practical understanding of time-telling by helping them to create their own daily schedule and encouraging them to keep track of it and observing the time allotted for certain activities at specific times.
Learn to tell the time with the resources that you need
So, how do you tell the time on a clock? Having the right resources will not only supplement your child’s classroom learning but also cater to the different learning styles and preferences that they may have – as well as your own. So, create a supportive learning environment for everyone and encourage skill development with the resources you need from EasyRead Time Teacher.