NumberShark?

[MarioandLuigi]

Does anyone have any experience with the Numbershark programme? What do you think of it as I would like to get a feel for it before I stump up for it :)

[IndigoBell]

I think it's rubbish.

If your child needs extra help with maths, the thing most recommended on here is Numicon.

[mumof2littlegirls]

They use Numicon at my DDs school - the children love it

[MarioandLuigi]

Thank Indigo - he doesnt have a problem as such, he does have ASD but he adores numbers and wondered if this might be something fun he could do rather than a learning activity iyswim :)

[MarioandLuigi]

I will have a look at Numicon - thanks

[IndigoBell]

Oh, neither numicon nor number shark are right if he doesn't have a problem. Numbershark is an intervention program for kids who are struggling...

A lot of people here use maths whizz or another one I've forgotten.... That sounds more what you're looking for.

[MarioandLuigi]

Thats great - will have a look.

The thing is he is stuggling but he isnt. Its hard to explain as he is only 4. He loves numbers but just that, he isnt interested in adding or anything but he loves counting and numbers, and he loves being on the computer so I am trying to find something that incorparates both his interests :)

[UnSerpentQuiCourt]

There are several free websites you could use. None leap to mind at the moment ... except maybe quia. Googling a specific topic such as number games should put you on the road to finding some. (Actually quia might be too old)

[Malaleuca]

Indigo - why do you say Number Shark is rubbish?

[RoadArt]

Ive trialled a lot of websites but havent heard of this one.

I think 4 is a bit young to be committing a child to a paid maths programme - there are so many free ones around. I think you should try lots of different sites to keep the interest up. A year long on one site/game at this age can be/might have a negative impact. Search for KS1 maths games to get different opportunities.

If you do want to pay, another good site for young children is education city, but again, 4 is very young (costs about £30). I also like the Jump Ahead software.

[RoadArt]

There doesnt seem to be any trial online for us to make any comments

[SoupDragon]

Our primary enrolled the whole school from Y1 in Mathletics. I assume they don't pay nearly as much as an individual would,

They used to use Maths Base and Word Shark but I dont think they used Numbershark. If Numbershark works along the same lines as Wordshark, I would disagree that it is for struggling children as it can be tailored to your child's level.

[IndigoBell]

Malaleuca - Probably a bit mean of me to say that number shark is rubbish. I think word shark is absolute rubbish. I have used that at home with my elder son and it doesn't compare very well to all the other learn to read / spell computer programs I have tried over the years. ( For example Nessy is much better.)

DD used both number shark and word shark at school. Now obviously nothing works for teaching DD to read, so word shark make no diff to her at all.

Hard to tell if number shark worked at all because school insisted there was nothing wrong with her maths (despite putting her on number shark) . She scraped a 2c in KS1 at maths (and 'numbers' is her weakest area in numeracy). So she made her 'targeted' level. Surely if number shark had worked she would have made better progress than what she was already on target for.....

But mostly I think word shark is dreadful, and assumed number shark is just as bad.

[looblylu]

i can second education city. Its about £24 for a year and has maths, english and science.

DD is 4 and LOVES it :)
if your son likes numbers but isnt all that interested in adding just yet there are some games on there that are just number recognition and that sort of thing ("click the sheep with the number 3" etc etc)

plus theres a 10 day free trial so you can give it a go without commiting to it!

also if you enter F4E5FF2C into the tell a friend box when you sign up and you then decide to subscribe you get an extra 3 months free (and so do i :))

[Galena]

Wordshark and Numbershark are able to be tailored completely to your child's level. They provide very short, focussed tasks in the form of games and give a reward game for each completed task. If used properly, they can be very valuable and can help children's number/word work. However, not used properly, the children gain very little benefit from them.

At school we used to use Numbershark more than Wordshark. I used it with my lower Y3 maths set, and it was very good for practice of the basic stuff - number bonds to 10, 20 or 100, tables, etc. We never really got past these! However, I was very clear with the group which games I wanted them to play as there were some which didn't practise the number work. Very quickly they learned which ones to play though.

So, I would say, used properly, it's worth the money, and to use it properly involves:

• looking at it in advance to decide where the child needs to start.
  
• talking the child through the games you want them to use and how they work.
  
• showing them how to work out the answers to the type of questions they will meet.
  
• watching them as they work to see how they are working out the answers and how quickly they can answer them.
  
• intervening if necessary to help them become more efficient/accurate.
  
• moving them onto more difficult work when needed.
  

Obviously sometimes they can be allowed to 'play', but too often (and I have seen this in my old school) it is used by teachers as an easy lesson, which is why the children do not make progress.

Gosh, that was a long post! Sorry and well done if you reached the end!