This content is just the first step. Number skills always come first, but later we will be adding more specific content – please bear with us as we continue to build the site…
Start by sharpening up their number skills
Learning times tables is so much easier than before…
Around age 7 your child is probably ready to secure times tables facts up to 12×12. The world has moved on, and there is no need for chanting or those dreadful car CDs anymore, hooray! With the simple free games available online, it is possible to learn tables quicker than ever before.
Pick a times table – say starting with the 5s – and write the table out in full (or print it out) like this:
1 x 5 = 5
2 x 5 = 10 etc
Then CLICK HERE and scroll down the page until you get to the games that are set up underneath the little blue picture on the left. They are tables speed tests. If the sound of cheering is too much for you, turn the volume down…
At first your child will read from the written table in order to hit on the correct answer. But in no time at all you will find he or she will stop referring to the cheat sheet because the tables facts have gone in!
Two lots of 2 minute games per night and each table will be cracked in a couple of evenings (or mornings if that suits your child better). Once the table is completely secured, ask a couple of questions backwards, i.e. ‘How many 5s in 45?’ and your child should be able to answer quickly and accurately, ‘9!’.
There is a quick fix for all basic number skills…
CLICK HERE to practice adding simple numbers.
CLICK HERE to practice subtracting simple numbers.
CLICK HERE for the valuable skill of giving change. Click on the game and start at level one.
Once number skills are sharp, move to place value…
We’ve prepared a little video for your child to watch HERE.
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[toggle title=”Why does my child lack confidence in maths?” open=”no”] Strong performance in maths lessons is only possible if your child has a good grasp of basic numbers. Number skills need to be learnt and can’t be swept under the carpet.
The good news is that there are free online games available now, that children enjoy using. In future all children will learn number skills this way and it will be so much easier for them than it was for us. All the links you need are in the How to fix your child’s maths pages. All it will take is 5 minutes per day and within a fortnight she will be start to feel better about maths, and to perform much better in class. Keep it up and she won’t look back. [/toggle]
[toggle title=”My daughter is six years old, what should I be doing to improve her number skills?” open=”no”]Younger children should be taking advantage of all opportunities to count. Do plenty of counting forwards, backwards and skipping a number or two, both in the car and in spare moments at home.
Let her handle coins and start to give change from 10p then 20p and so on. Share toys into equal groups and play plenty of the online number games we have links to on these pages. Strong number skills will build up her confidence and her ability to grasp new mathematical concepts. [/toggle]
[toggle title=”My son is in Year 4 and he is struggling to cope in maths lessons. What can I do to help him?” open=”no”]If you can get your son’s number skills up to speed then you will be giving him a valuable boost In confidence. The knock-on effect of this will be to improve his results in lessons. The great thing about number work is that doesn’t take up much time or energy. A daily slot for as little as 5 minutes (before bath, bed and reading each evening) will be all that you need to put in place. When tables are in place and his number skills are strong, he will be able to spot what a tricky question is asking through his familiarity with the numbers. Use the links on our maths pages, start with the Learning tables is so much easier than before page. [/toggle]
[toggle title=”My daughter has secured her tables, what do we focus on next?” open=”no”]Once your daughter’s tables are secured and she can answer any random question speedily and accurately, then move on to giving change from 10p, 50p to £1 and so on. This is essential number work, an excellent life-skill and one that will have a positive impact on her confidence and accuracy. Return to our How to fix your child’s maths pages to get her started.
[toggle title=”I’ve been told my son needs to secure place value. What does that mean?” open=”no”] Where we place the digits we write – in the Hundreds, Tens or Units columns – is what is meant by place value. It is the key to our number system.
Children are usually happy with the three column titles H T U, and possibly including a Thousands column too, but they often are unsure of how to write larger or smaller numbers correctly. We have a little video on this that we will upload shortly (sorry for the wait).[/toggle]
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