Y3 DD - improving mental arithmetic

[goldmum]

DD is in Y3, bright but more creative, loves reading and writing. She is doing well in maths (fine at applying what she knows, problem solving etc) but her mental arithmetic isn't great. She is often slow to do simple sums and makes silly mistakes. Any ideas on resources to help her?

Play darts together.

Hi I have a fantastic tip for you I wish I had known ages ago. Play hobbit monopoly and get number shark. I have to say monopoly has been the best as I also managed to bribe my DS to do other stuff like the much vaunted bond papers ready for his7+. Don't have the results back so not saying we have cracked it but the has been a dramatic change in how fast he doubles , halves gives change adding up dice two or three so you increase the speed. They love the Monopoly money and it teaches them a bit of probability and a bit about risk too.

God, OP I'm in the same boat - are you me? I've tried a lot of things - worksheets (sort of Kumon-y), mathwhizz, ixl, games.

Two things have helped: timestable4u (obviously for times tables only) www.timestables4u.com/ and komodo maths komodomath.com/. For the first time, the simple maths skills are "sinking in". Both are very simple, straightforward, ungimmicky learning tools. Timestable is free, but komodo you pay £8/month.

I really wish you the best of luck, as I know how incredibly frustrating it is for an otherwise bright kid to be struggling with pretty basic maths.

Great ideas - thanks. We do Monopoly and DD is always the banker. Need to play more!

We tried Education City for a while but she focused on the literacy side as that's what she enjoys. She does do the Bond Papers but makes silly mistakes. Was thinking about trying Kumon but might try a different web based programme first.