Help finding useful maths resources

[katebrithdir]

Help! I help out a neighbour who's 13 yr old twins are HE by doing maths with them once a week. I am not any sort of an expert, but they didn't have any maths input at the time & wanted some so it seemed better than nothing!

Anyway, we have been using some KS2 workbooks particularly ones looking at problem solving & basic numeracy - multiplication, division etc. Now they could do with something a little more challenging, but looking at the KS3 books I can see they don't look that good (no explanation, just lots of test questions focused on SATS). We live in West Wales so I will have to buy over the web, & can't sit & peer at the books in advance. Any suggestions? A book would be better than computer sites as they don't have a functioning computer.

Its much harder than doing maths with my DD (age 5) not just cos they're older, but also cos I'm with her all the time, so talking about maths kind of comes naturally mixed in with other stuff that we do. Hence why I feel that I need some kind of structured workbook.

I home school one of mine (age 11) and have decided that the STP books are the best and most widely used by schools, particularly independant schools. There are books 7A, 8A and 9A for years 7, 8 and 9.

We are working through Book 7A. I think they are all you need. Each chapter, and exercise within a chapter, begins with a clear explanation. They are never faced with something which has not first been explained using a worked example.

HTH

Thanks - that sounds exactly what I need - I'll have a look for them & we can give them a try. They want to take maths gcse at the local college I think when they get to 14+, so I want to try to cover the basics that they'll need before then.

My son is in year 8 and has been happier with maths since he started at his secondary school. The text books are Key Maths (revised) by Nelson Thornes. It is laid out clearly. I find I can work out the answers ok and the questions get a little more difficult as you go through an exercise, but not too difficult.

All the answers are at the back I have just realised!

He even said to me last night that he likes maths now.

I am HE my younger son, 10, which is why I haunt this section of mumsnet!

I have purchased the KS3 online maths2XL. Every topic has a tutorial which you can listen to as many times as needed, then a worksheet, then enter the answers and you need to pass the topic. It is fantastic. If you are a member of EO you get it at a big discount.

Sounds good, but they don't have a computer, so it needs to be a book I guess. I'm still not sure that a workbook approach is ideal, but we only have an hour a week, so something structured seems to work best.

oh so sorry, didnt read the first post thoroughly enough!we have just bought CGP revision books for maths, supposed to be really good and well recommended. Not used it yet though so cannot really comment, but know lots of people talk about them so didnt want to miss out on a recommended resource!