Which Maths Resources Does Your School Use?

[WoodRose]

Hi. Our school is performing below average in maths. We are an "outstanding" school in an affluent area, but maths in our school has played second fiddle to the more creative aspects of the curriculum.

The school's governors and the PTA are keen to improve the school's maths resources and would very much like to know what other schools have found to be most useful. We are looking for resources (online and traditional) which cover a range of abilities. Any suggestions would be gratefully received!

We have Mathletics, my dd's love it! I think it works out @£6 per child we aren't charged for it though.

Ninamag - it would be great to hear what it is about Mathletics that your daughter loves. The girls in our school are performing particularly poorly, so it is wonderful to hear of dds that love maths.

We just use good teachers

It would be useful to have a bit more info such as the age range and what you already use.
The most important resource in any classroom is the teacher so I am with spaniel! textbooks/online resources all come second to who is explaining.

I believe it years 3-6 where there are concerns. Last year the school used "ocean maths" which the HT didn't think was particularly good.

Agree that the best resource would be teachers who are enthusiastic about maths. Unfortunately, HT and many of the teachers have an aversion to maths and prefer the artistic, creative part of the curriculum.

The maths and science teaching has always been uninspiring and it is reflected in our results. The HT isn't particularly proactive re maths which is why the governors & PTA are seeking alternatives.

We don't use any scheme ( or even the Framework once in KS2) but what we do is ensure that the children enjoy maths-our pupil surveys consistently tell us that maths is the children's favourite subject because it is challenging and they like that. The lessons are fast paced and broken down into intro-have a go-where have we got to, have another go-plenary sessions. There are days when we just get out our text books ( always a treat as we don't use them very often!) and plough our way through sum after sum BUT we make it into a competition, how far can you get, is it further than last time. We do speed tables, the same questions every day for a week BUT you aim to be faster and more accurate than yesterday, mental maths tests every week BUT shiny stickers every time you beat your target.

Luckily the majority of our staff love maths ( and our head is an ex maths advisor!) and it shows.

we use abucus

(Oh and I use Nrich for problem solving)

I agree with nrich, it's a brilliant site and we use it quite often, but I HATE abacus! ( Mind you, I dislike most schemes as I don't like being told what to do

Spanieleyes - I love the idea of your speed maths and mental maths! DS's teacher this year has tried to make timestables a bit more competitive with "beat the clock". The DC are really enjoying it and gives them a real incentive to learn their tables.

i personally use abacus losely and frequently alter it

Our school runs a lunchtime club Maths for girls and has also modified the content of lessons to be a little more female friendly...think stereotyping. Don't ask details that's just the blurb we get fed as parents and according to the school & ofsted it's working.

Science is very creative too! Lots of mad messy investigations. My DCs school is very creative (appeared on a teachers TV program on creativity) but is also great at science. Its Maths is a bit more pedestrian and it lost its brilliant Maths specialist a few years ago, so not as amazing there (but it has a reverse of most gender stereotypes, boys do better at literacy girls do better at Maths and Science).