KS1 Maths resources for year 6

[GetThatWalnutOutOfMyFace]

Hi

I'm trying to help a friend's dc who struggles quite a bit with Maths, I think I need to go as far back as KS1 to make sure all the basic concepts are secure - I have lots of resourses to hand from helping my own dcs but most are suitable for younger children.

I wondered if anyone had links or ideas to help - he's such a lovely kid - really enthusiastic and tries hard, I just really want to help him gain some confidence in Maths without boring him to tears.

what does he know? is he secure in his times tables for instance? If not then try timezattax.com

its free amd more like a game than learning the times tables

also you'll find a few things on this that may help

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1491607

this is the url for Timez Attack www.bigbrainz.com/

Thank you - not sure if he knows his time tables yet - I doubt it. He knows his number bonds to 10 but can't apply his knowledge - number bonds to 20 are a challenge, he works out addition & subtractions under 10 by counting forward on his fingers. He can't use number lines, his knowledge of maths facts is very limited.

I'm starting off by taking him through Year 1 objectives - both to build his confidence and so I can figure out where the gaps in his knowledge begin.

Ummmm. What are school doing for him? Is he on an IEP? Is he on a Maths Intervention?

I think she should be discussing this with school so that parents and teachers are working together to help someone who is so clearly behind....

The school are doing the best they can with available resourses - he has an IEP and is on a systematic intervention program for Maths and Reading but one to one time is a precious commodity, my friend has tried to help him but she gets too frustrated so I have stepped in.

I have helped my own ds in KS1 catch up to gain 4 sublevels in one year and with that he gained loads of confidence and a developed a more positive attitude to Maths.

I hope to make the sessions as enjoyable as possible for him as I did for my own ds but most of my resourses were designed for KS1 aged children not Year 6 children.

Have you researched dyscalculia?

Good luck. I think you will find it very hard to make maths fun for a 10 year old who is so far behind.

I like the Dyscalculia Toolkit by Ronit Bird. I'm finding that with the ideas in the book, CD of printable stuff (comes with book)plus the purchase of some cuisenaire rods (book suggests using them a lot) that you can get a lot of ideas across. Deals with crossing 10's barrier teen numbers, crossing 20's barrier and so on. Lots of strategies for basic mental maths covered too. Also covers T&U place value and times tables, multiplication and division. Book is aimed at 7 to 14 year olds so should be appropriate age-wise
Having said that, activities in book have not really helped the severely dycalculic student I work with but has been great for lots of others with less severe problems

I thought dyscalculia was only suspected when a child was otherwise able but their maths was well below their other subjects...this child is struggling across the board.

I have suggested dyscalculia to the Mum already though and she is going to ask the Senco to look into it a bit further.

He's a very innocent, very polite, enthusiastic child - he's quite special really...you can't help but want to help him.

Yes, I agree with your definition of dyscalculia. Didn't mean to suggest your student had it necessarily. The book is great for all kinds of students, not just those with dyscalculia (despite the title)

I have a dyscalculic yr 5 son... This year he is getting some 121 time with a specialist tutor as there is extra funding available for dc with maths issues. You should get your friend to speak to the school about this.
He is currently working on number bonds to 20, and bridging 100, so similar levels.. it is a struggle because even though he may learn a maths fact or his times table he struggles to apply it... Mental maths is impossible.
Atm, I am concentrating on money and using it constantly. Can he find something costing 50p in the shop, can he get the cereal, how much does it cost, how much change will he have...
I can't get him to sit down at the table and work for 30 mins...it's just too much of a struggle for him, but if we're thinking about maths all the time, in a fun way, we're fine.

Lublie - thanks for the game link. Very different to the normal times tables game.

GetThatWalnut - the child may or may not have dyscalculia - but it is possible to have dyscalculia and dyslexia and dyspraxia and dysgraphia etc - so that you are behind in all subjects.

But whether or not he has dyscalculia - researching it will give you ideas on how to teach Maths to kids who are struggling.

Sarah - thanks for the book idea. Sounds interesting.

Sorry wasn't being snippy - I will have a look at the Toolkit. I got him to do a puzzle today and he enjoyed it so much that he asked if he had time to do another - I told him he only had 5 mins and his speed was remarkable - and accuracy wasn't bad either...so I think there's hope...I have to believe there's hope!

Also, his teacher is happy to work with me - everyone just wants to help him as much as possible.

Sorry Sarah - even my apology sounds a bit snippy, it's not intentional...things are not coming out right tonight.

Yes you're right Indigo - many of these techniques can help dcs whether they have the condition or not...will help with finding resources.

S'Ok - I didn't take offence.
If he likes jigsaws you may find that he is quite a visual learner and will really benefit from using something like Cuisenaire Rods that help the DC's to visualise (length and colour) the maths they are learning.
Also try number squares, colouring in squares on paper to show calculations - anything that has a highly visual element to it.

sorry forgot the links
ict games there's a few here ds likes... the mummy one in particular.
maths is fun this has a times table trainer and also a number bonds to 20 game.. concentrating on +9 and +11