Timez attack playing help- time limits?

[Cat98]

Hello, I downloaded the free version of 'timez attack' for ds and he likes it. I was just wondering if there's any way of turning off or at least extending the time limits? It doesn't give them long at all to work out the answers. I know it would hold ds's attention for a lot longer if he just had a bit more time to answer the sums!
Thanks.

Timez attack is a precision teaching game and the whole point of it is that they need to work out the sums quickly.

Yes, that can be demotivating, but really it is the only way for them to learn their tables quickly rather than adding them up in their head.

If you want longer there are loads of other free games on the web that aren't based on precision teaching.....

Ah ok, it's just that he's perfectly capable of working out the answers and enjoys the game but is just finding the time limit slightly too short. I'm not worried about him needing to do it as he's still young - it's more that I think he'd really get loads out of it if it was a bit longer. Never mind - can you recommend any of the other games please?

My dd is currently working her way through Timez Attack. Initially she was absolutely hopeless and couldn't answer any of the questions quickly. Very soon she was answering them at lighting speed. It's very clever about drilling only a very few questions at a time to get kids both accurate and fluent.

We up-graded and while it's expensive, the results have been pretty phenomenal. I'm very impressed.

Watching with interest for other games too.

DD (now 10) loved Timez Attack and it worked well for a while but as it got harder she got very stressed by the time limits on the 'test' part of it and ended up refusing to do any of it. It was a shame as it was really improving her tables and I do think that a little more time would have helped her :(
DS (7), however, loves a challenge and doesn't give a flying fig about being a perfectionist, he just goes for it.
Different personalities completely.

Hi Cat98:

I'm afraid for the free version at least - it's all about answering the problems quickly (it is about developing speed).

If you feel your DS needs more practice first here are a few ideas:

Table trees: www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/tabletrees.html

Mumsnet timestable games (ideas for things to do at home plus an interactive grid game): www.mumsnet.com/learning/maths/interactive-times-tables-activity

Multiplication.com - games and worksheets: www.multiplication.com/

Woodlands Junior School Multiplication page - lots of practice for individual times tables: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html

Thanks all. Ds is a perfectionist too and is asking for more time though he's nearly quick enough! It's a great concept though. I wonder if it would be a better game building up to time limits with harder levels!
The other suggestions look good, thanks. We'll try those.

Just wanted to update and say he has now got over this and is enjoying timez attack! We started with taking it in turns to answer the questions, and when he realised he just had to work them out as usual (and also that it really doesn't matter if the troll hits him, it's not real, lol) he became happier and very keen to play it. He still likes me to sit with him when he's playing but I he's really enjoying the game :)

Hi Cat98

Woo Hoo! for the update and well done to your son for sticking with it.

& to you

and a plate of lovely (in the nice sense - although still not sure if biscuits or donuts - your DS can decide) to your DS

DD2 (8) also finds trolls (or ogres as we call them) intimidating - if that's any help to your DS.