Sums

[Tgger]

I remember doing lots of sum sheets/cards when I was at primary. There were lots of them, lots and lots of sums to get through, then you got the next card which was probably a different sort of sum. I loved it, geek child that I was. Do such sheets/cards exist now? Can you buy good ones on Amazon for a 6/7 year old? Haven't researched this myself yet, just wondered if anyone had recommendations?

I remember these too, loved them and did loads. It was a fairly small village school, and all the Juniors had maths at the same time, and were on a sort of individualised program. You went up to the teacher to get something explained and/or your work checked before going on to the next card, which I guess also had some instruction on it. There were several boxes, each with multiple levels, each with many cards in it, covering all topics in maths.

I don't think it would translate very well into the way maths are now taught at primary; nor do I think it would suit a lot of children who often need much more explanation, concrete materials, structure, interaction, etc.

But your post has brought back memories

Hi Tgger

DD1's Y5 teacher put this up on their virtual learning environment (Moodle) pages: www.math-drills.com/

Just select the type of sum you wish to do (or holiday theme) and then within that you can select ability level related work.

HTH

Small but important point - be careful when referring to 'sums' with your dcs; nowadays 'sum' refers to addition only.

I was going to say that, Feenie. What we used to call 'sums' are now called 'calculations'.

An easy way for DCs to create their own calculations- write out the numbers 0-9 on cards. Make a few sets and create two piles of shuffled cards.

The Dc takes a card from one pile, and one from the other pile, and adds them together, or subtracts the smaller number from the larger.

Next step, make some cards showing 1, preferably in a different colour card to the single digits. Make some blank cards in this new olour as well. DC now uses the blanks and 1s alongside the single digits to create a number between 0 and 19, and creates some calculations with these.

Finally, mix all the cards together and split into 4 piles-2 on one side, and 2 on the other. Dc pulls out a card from each of the first 2 piles to create one 2 digit number, and repeats with the other two piles, and is now calculating with numbers up to 99.

You can keep on adding more and more cards so the Dcs can generate numbers with any number of digits (though by the time they're working with 4 digit numbers they will maybe be a bit bored with the game ).

Thanks Feenie & amistillsexy

Once Tggr said 'sums' and given my great age and late hour, my mushy brain could no longer recall 'calculations'.

Anyway the website has a nice choice of problems/ calculations & holiday themed worksheets.

HTH

Hi there..i am a mum of a 9 year old. I wonder weather anyone has got used kumon worksheets? I am willing to erase the answers and reuse it for daughter who is strugling with basic addition, subtraction skills. I am having a hard time and cant afford for tution. I do know few of her classmates who attend kumon but refused to give the used sheets. I can also get those scanned and give back. I can send a prepaid envelope.I am keeping fingers crossed.My email address is [email protected].
Kind Regards

I loved those cards.. They were called SMP cards in my school with different colour boxes for levels.. I have even looked on google for them but looks like they were all thrown away :(..

Hi Sharmilayoucan:

These are not Kumon but are free worksheets and pretty clear about what is covered: www.math-drills.com/

Just select calculation type (addition/ subtraction/ multiplication/ etc...) from blue menu at top and then scroll down through list of worksheets. Takes a bit of exploring to identify the right level of worksheet - but worth it.

Addition worksheets here: www.math-drills.com/addition.shtml

Subtraction worksheets here: www.math-drills.com/subtraction.shtml

HTH

Hi Sharmiliayoucan:

Another thing you can try - just for variety - is Maths Champs - link via Mumsnet education learning section: www.mumsnet.com/learning
or direct here: www.mathschamps.co.uk/

Woodland junior school has very useful mathszone: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/ - with all sorts of games to help with practice & reinforcing skills - just chose type of calculation you want to practice and follow from there.

BBC bitesize KS1 - also has good practice: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/maths/addition_and_subtraction/play/

Forest ordering/ adventure sequences and Safari units also help reinforce number patterning/ place value skills - also on BBC bitesize KS1.

HTH

sharmila you can buy Kumon workbooks off Amazon for about £5 each, no idea how good they are though.

Thanks all, some good ideas! I may still go on a seach for those antique cards, SMP eh? But the website stuff is a great place to start failing that, am sure DS would like that, I prefer concrete things still!