maths curriculum : can anyone recommend books for teaching year 3-4?

[ZZZen]

Hi. I'm looking for a maths book to actually teach year 3-4 maths rather than workbooks aimed at supplementing material already covered in class. I see a lot of those types of workbooks about but not actual instruction books.

Can anyone recommend a maths curriculum they have used? (I am not a maths buff btw and neither is dd, so the easier it is for me as dp to follow the better really!)

[clam]

Teaching resources in shops are on a different shelf from the typical practice books for kids to see at home. Scholastic do a range (in a range of subjects) called something along the lines of '100 (all new) maths lessons' for each year of school. I know a good few teachers who use these for reference in school. Or look at the dfes standards site to see resources and guidance for teachers. Not good at links, but will have a go. nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/primary/mathematics/

[ZZZen]

Thanks, tricky because I have to order the material unseen, so I was hoping to get a recommendation for a specific curriculum IYSWIM.

Since maths has not been dd's best subject, we have used various workbooks for different things and muddle through but I do want something more coordinated which pulls it all together and has a concept you follow through - mainly because it would be less work for me.

I am reading reviews on Singapore maths at the moment and trying to decide whether it would work for us. Hard to say without actually seeing it.

[juuule]

Heinemann do complete maths schemes.

We have used the Abacus Evolve y6 workbooks and thought they were good.

Our primary school use NHM series.

[piscesmoon]

If you want some help for free you might try
primary resources site Some of the powerpoint presentations are very good for explaining.
The Woodlands Junior School maths zone is also good.this page

I particularly like the Target Maths books
Amazon but you could do with seeing them before you buy. They are very straightforward with no gimmicks.

[mumtoo3]

we are using montessori maths and schofield and sims maths books which dd1 loves, alot of homeschool friends use saxon. hth mt3 x

[ladycornyofsilke]

Go to the standards site and look at the numeracy programme. The NNS has excellect examples for each teaching point if you can get hold of a copy.
Are you home eding?

[spudmasher]

The Renewed Primary Framework should be the starting point for teaching maths - on the standards site. I get ideas for activities from Scholastic 100 maths framework lessons and the Abacus teachers cards/ books.

[Bink]

The "So You Really Want to Learn ..." series is one we've seen and liked (we're not home edders, though, it was lent us by a school). It's not National Curriculum, though, it's the curriculum used for private schools, but maybe that doesn't matter?

This is a link to the first book. There are at least two more volumes, and answer books for each one too

[joyfuleyes]

Galore Park or Singapore.

[lilyfire]

You could have a look at MEP from CIMT - Uni of Plymouth. I think you can check it all out on line first/print stuff out and try it and it seems v reasonably priced if you want to buy it. We have the first stage book and materials which look ok.

[ZZZen]

That's great, thanks everyone for the tips, I've printed the thread so google a bit and I will look into everything - and then probably need to come back and ask more!

[ZZZen]

Just reporting back that I am working my way through your suggestions everyone and thinking Singapore maths is maybe not the right one for dd now that I have read some reviews on it. Hmm difficult.

Am looking into soem of the others you have mentioned now. Saxon I read is apparently very dry and repetitive which doesn't sound quite right. Something bang in the middle of Singapore and Saxon might be right for us.

spudmasher I used the Scholastic "100 maths activities kids need to do by ... grade" for years 1 and 2 to try and sort out the problems not as a curriculum but there were an awful lot of errors in the textbook which is a pain and they made some quite big jumps so one page would be basic fractions (1/2 and 1/4 colour ins, the next would be getting down to the lowest possible fraction 4/16th etc. Dd was often a bit lost with it and I want something which requires less imput and control from me (fed up with maths lazy bint emoticon)

Where IS IT?! Ok still looking into Heinemann, Target etc.

THanks for that website piscesmoon (primary resources), there are some great worksheets on fractions I've seen.

[ZZZen]

actually I want a tablet you give your dc once a day and then they can do maths kind of thing....

But in the meantime I am hunting down a straightforward curriculum with clear teaching and enough practice and not too dry

[rooftop]

Online are Conquermaths, LearnPremium, Meleto and my son's current fave EducationCity. U will need to check about the ages tho' cos my ds is older.

[ZZZen]

oh thank you for that.

MORE to investigate! Well I looked at So you really want to learn (junior) and liked the look of their sample chapter. That might work well for dd. I also liked their other books - junior history and English. Thanks for that tip!

I found the MEP, has all the contents of the books online which is helpful and the teacher's instructions so quite clear but does seem to be geared towards a teacher doing group activities with a class from what I saw. Not sure how it works 1-1 but have to study it a bit more.

[streakybacon]

We've been using Maths Whizz online. They have a trial for schools, not sure if there's one for home ed though. It's good fun.

[ZZZen]

Thanks streakybacon, will investigate. Good that you're finding it fun. Never heard of Whizz before.

Piscesmoon, can you tell me why you like the Target books? I had a look on Amazon and read a couple of reviews which were generally positive and said the teaching was clear and for each teaching point there are activities of graded difficulty but you could not look inside the book so I'm not quite sure what you get. From what you said before, I take it they are quite plain, no comics and aliens and funny little animals etc.

Seems there is quite a lot out there, once you start looking into it. Thanks for all the recommendations everyone!

[piscesmoon]

They are very plain-no comic pictures etc.
I suppose they are a modern version of old fashioned-if that makes sense! Each topic has examples and then there are 3 sections A,B and C which are graded. If children are not confident they can start at A and work through the lot, if you feel they have a reasonable understanding they can start at B and work through and if they are a real whizz, just do C.
I would say that they are better for the DC who is above average in Maths,I have used them in school and the DCs love deciding for themselves where to start (and are very good at getting the right level).
If they are weak at Maths they would probably be better with less on the page, colour and comic pictures.
I'm sorry not to be a great help-you really need to see one before you buy because you may hate it!

[piscesmoon]

Have you looked on ebay?-you can often pick up cheap educational books on there.

[chatterbocs]

I usually use the developing series by AC& Black.I've picked them up for a little as £3.99 off ebay & Amazon etc
They have indvidual books that look at the 4 areas of maths for their year group. And unlike the workbooks they aren't done in 5 minutes flat & help you as the adult how to teach the child if they need more help.
www.acblack.com/children/default.asp?Page=4&dept%5Fid=9&category%5Fid=134&sec=1&subnav =&seriestitle=Developing+Numeracy&mscssid=7L4843SF8V429HRVPH5D2K0B42NVC1SE

[melissa75]

The standards website with the framework on it for maths has a lot of great ideas, as well as the LCP page, they have some great books with lesson plans as well as CD's that include worksheets if needed.

[ZZZen]

I see pisces, thanks. Think those books might not be what I need for dd, although I agree they sound good generally. I cancelled my ebay account after I made some bad experiences on it, otherwise I'm sure you can get good bargains on there.

Thing is I have workbooks and sheets of differnt types but I wanted an overall thing with less looking here and there (and well work). Some great tips on here.

I have decided to have a go with the Junior So you really want to learn maths series and see how that goes. I quite like the look of their sample chapter on the publisher's website.

Keep adding any tips/experiences though if you'd like to, I'm sure they're of use to other MNers as well.

[ZZZen]

THanks Melissa. DIdn't know they had books too.

Argh Chatter, just after I'd finally made my mind up. Will have a look at those AC Black books. Have never heard of them before either.

[ZZZen]

Melissa, what is the LCP page?

[ZZZen]

some nice books on that acblack site. However I always find myself veering off to things that interest me more than maths (history, citizenship etc). Good tip I think chatter. Still having a look round the site