Maths workbooks or resources recommendations please for struggling Y8

[Celeriacacaca]

DS, Y8, has done badly in recent tests so I'm wondering if there are any workbooks suitable for a Y8 that you'd recommend please? Not revision guides, as such, but something he can work his way through so we can identify areas of weakness.

[Hulababy]

Would the workbooks, which can be used on their own or alongside the study guides, be okay?

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-answers-online/dp/1841460389/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371355&sr=1-4&keywords=ks3%20cgp%20books&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Year-Workbook-Curriculum/dp/0007562675/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-7&keywords=ks3%20maths&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-answers-online/dp/1841460389/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-2&keywords=ks3%20maths&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-online-Foundation/dp/1841460494/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-9&keywords=ks3%20maths&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-Revision-Curriculum/dp/1844197565/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-10&keywords=ks3%20maths&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Celeriacacaca]

Great, thanks Hulababy. These look perfect. Thank you.

[PastSellByDate]

Hi Celeriacacaca

DD1 is only Y7 - so these resources may be old news for you - but we use:

BBC Bitesize KS3 Maths: www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zqhs34j - good explanation/ great for reviewing things - explains process/ games to test your knowledge - useful to use alongside homework that is tricky.

Corbett Maths 5 a day: corbettmaths.com/5-a-day/ - 5 random problems are various difficulty levels (organised by old GCSE grades) - worked answers are provided. DD1 likes the challenge but it is only 1 problem in an area - so if there is an area of weakness and more practice is needed you probably will have to go elsewhere for that.

some useful links from Wyvern College for KS3 revision: wyvernmathsrevision.wordpress.com/ks3/

If your school has My Maths - you can do extra homeworks/ lessons on your own. Useful if there is an area of weakness exposed by Corbett 5 a day problems.

Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org/ - free website with videos where the workings are shown while a disembodied voice explains how to do it/ demonstrates the process. really useful when you just want a reminder on how to do something - i.e. calcualte volume of a cone? www.khanacademy.org/math/basic-geo/basic-geo-volume-surface-area/basic-geo-volumes/v/volume-cone-example - you can join and follow their maths programme independently at home.

NRich Maths website - from Cambridge University - is about using your existing maths skills with challenging problems. Really builds those problem solving skills. It does take a certain amount of confidence - but I've found if maths is more of a puzzle than a chore it tends to be more enjoyable: link to Nrich lower secondary: nrich.maths.org/secondary-lower

Finally - most schools offer maths homework assistance - sometimes in form of drop-in clinics or after school clubs. If your DS isn't taking advantage of that - encourage them to use it. Try having a go at homework day 1. Taking in tricky problems to the clinic day 2. With some extra help & explanation for older students/ teachers - they may just find it isn't as difficult as they think. Like anything it becomes easier with good coaching and practice - but I can appreciate football [or any other sport] may seem more fun than practising maths.


HTH