KS1 Maths help pretty please

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

I know lots of HEers like to not be too formal but dc1 loves having written work to do and a book to follow and to get given stickers for doing work etc.

So I'm looking for something to teach Yr 1 maths. I've just bought Scholastic's Practice Maths book for Yr1 but it's just a few pages on each topic of exercises and I'm fleshing it out with other books. What I'd really like is a book that teaches all the topics for the year and provides practice which I can expand on. Does anyone have any ideas please?

I've tried Schofield and Sims and a few others recommended on the Muddy Puddles blog but I'm either boggled and confused by what to use when, or the books don't 'teach' the topic. I'd like the dc to be taught the current method if you know what I mean.

Any and all suggestions welcome!!

[MommysNotTalkingToday]

DD likes this website for maths. It is American though, so progress is not measured according to key stages. There are short videos teaching the different topics and plenty opportunities for practice.

[GreenSand]

It doesn't teach, but mind have loved gold star work books

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

Thank you both, we use khan academy and the Gold star books, I think I just feel a bit random with them and that I'm not covering all the topics. It's just that I don't trust myself enough I suppose!

[MommysNotTalkingToday]

I worry about missing topics too, that's why we use Khan Academy, it covers everything.

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

Thank you zzzzz, I will check that out tomorrow.

Mommys, sorry I wasn't being dismissive of KA, I think I just don't know how to use it effectively. I have the app and I wonder if the full site is better to use?

[itsstillgood]

If you are looking for something to teach then over the counter workbooks aren't the way to go they are designed for practice at home. Even a lot of school targeted stuff is practice only as the teaching is done by the teacher either to whole class or group. Maths is a practical subject.

If you want a book that teaches you are looking for a curriculum for use by homeschoolers and most of these are US - Singapore and Math Mammoth jump to mind.

Have a look at MEP though. It is a full free UK curriculum from Reception to GCSE age. You can print or buy the workbooks. However these are practice really, there are downloadable lesson plans which cover the teaching
www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/

[MommysNotTalkingToday]

I didn't think you were being dismissive
I was talking about the full site though, I had no idea they had an app.

[Akallabeth]

I use MEP with both my HE children. It was great in the early days to have the full lesson plans so I knew exactly what I had to do each day. It covers everything in the NC I believe and has really helped my maths-phobic DD to fill in the gaps from when she left school. She even enjoys maths sometimes now

My DS is the kind of child that just wants to have the briefest explanation possible, then be allowed to go do the practise sheets on his own. So for him I skip most of what's in the lesson plan. He will let me know when/if he needs any help.

For DD she really needs the full explanations and the games and puzzles. So we do more of each lesson plan with her. There is a lot of built in review, but we also go back to play previous games again when she is really struggling in an area or on the days when staring at a page of 'sums' will reduce her to tears.

MEP is designed to be used in a classroom setting so it does need occasional tweaking. Things like Saxon are designed for HE but are also expensive. MEP does the job just fine and is free, if you print the practise books at home. I choose to buy them as they are only £3 ish (there are 2 books per school year) each and its just one less thing to sort out. Compared to Saxon's £120 ish per year, MEP is a bargain!

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

Thank you, I will look at MEP, I don't think I've heard of that one.

On a slightly separate note, the kids are both quite visual learners, and they like using numicon, has anyone used the Explorer books and do you rate them? I got one from a friend who bought some for her daughter who was in Yr1 when dd was R age and I'm just looking at using it now.

[busymummy0411]

We use Inspire Maths, its based on a Singapore curriculum, published by OUP. Two textbooks and four practice books per year which work together. Level 1 corresponds to Year 1. I think you can get sample pages from their website. We started in May with DD when I was having a bit of mental block regarding how to help her move forward from basic one digit addition and it's really helped. She's just finished Year 1 and we've started Year 2 this week. She always asks to do maths first now, so fun as well.