Mathletics, komodo, maths whizz something else?

[3bunnies]

Thinking of signing dd1 up for some extra maths, she is more motivated when it is on the computer. She will be going into yr 5 and wants to sit 11+ in yr 6. Her maths is above average but she says she is slower (ie in recalling times tablrs) than her peers and lacks confidence.

I would like something where I get feedback as I did A level maths so I can help her but I need to know where the gaps are. Would also be good to have sibling discount for soon to be yr 3 & yr R siblings who have confidence in bicket loads and jealousy over computer access. Something which works on Android smartphones would also be good.

Not asking for much!

My kids do Mathletics on the computer and love it - they're younger though (8 and 5) not sure if it's still good for older kids...have a look.

We have it on the computer and the iPads.

I have got komodo for dd2 at the moment. it is ok, and has helped her confidence a bit - mostly becasue we are putting in the regular practise, which is more tolerated because it is on the ipad.

she is fine in maths, but has zero confidence, and is hesitant in school. her teacher says she has noticed a difference since we startd using komodo.

no idea about sibling discounts, though.

oh, sorry, just seen age. dd2 is 7, in yr2.

not sure about how far komodo goes - think primary, though. dd2 did a quick test to 'level' her at the beginning, so as to get the right lessons to work through.

Yes dd1 is 9, she is keen to sit 11+, I'm not as convinced but want to give her a chance. I also think that it will do no harm for her to be more confident in maths. She will need to be at least a year or so above average (not super selective). She says she is currently 4c - whatever that means!

They need to be confident with the whole of primary curriculum by beginning of yr 6 which is hard if they haven't done the whole curriculum

The younger two enjoy maths so for them it would be more for fun.

How about uk.ixl.com. it is mastery based simple to use and in my opinion better than mathletics.

Studyladder could be worth a try www.studyladder.co.uk/about/parent?lc_set=

The 11+ maths tests are pretty unique and I think the best preparation is past papers and paper based problems such as bond revision or if you can afford it or can find one get an experienced tutor - though with A-level maths you could tutor yourself.

That said 11+ maths is hard! - so you really need quick and accurate arithmetic in place before you start to prepare for the test - and year 5 is a good time to do this.

Hi 3bunnies

I agree with Katemz - if this is about prepping for the 11+ then the best thing is to do maths papers (maybe start with 10 minute bonds - Bond has on-line verison as well) - and see what the result is.

I found with DD1 in prep for Sept 2013 sitting of 11+ - that going through missed questions highlighted mistakes (rushing, poor calculations skills or simply didn't know how to calculate that area/ volume).

Shofield & Sims Mental Arithmetic Book Level 4 was absolutely 'spot on' in terms of testing the range of calculation skills for the 11+ (we're in Birmingham).

I'd advise you to visit the 11+ forum and look into what your region discussion has to say about preparation for maths on the 11+ exams in your area, as each area tests differently. link here: www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php - just scroll down until you see your County/ area/ town/ city

In terms of building up multiplication table speed useful games can be found on

Woodlands Junior School Maths Zone/ times tables: resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/timestable/index.html

Multiplication dot com: www.multiplication.com/games

also worth downloading 'free version' of Timez Attack - info/ link here: www.bigbrainz.com/ - this starts by testing your child and then starts from where they're at. You're cast as a young ogre who runs round a dungeon or castle solving multiplication problems - great for building up speed.

HTH

If you want resources not aimed directly at 11+ then RM Mathis is very good.
s hool use it too. You buy a disc which you lad onto your computer. it assesses the starting point and then you have 15 minute sessions tailored to you, with gradual progression.
I have been impressed with it.

Thank you, lots to get into. I am wary of doing too many maths papers too soon as we still have over a year. I want something which will help her consolidate what she already knows, speed up her speed of calculating and help me to see where the gaps are in her knowledge. I also think that working on her maths and English will stand her in good stead whichever school she goes to. She has done some VR and NVR tests and generally scores well on them and enjoys them so not pushing that too much. Although she gets good marks in maths she enjoys English and science more, but I think a good maths package on the computer will be more interesting for her. Thank you all and I will go off to research them.

3bunnies:

If your school is signed up to My Maths - the games on there do really help build speed. Most subscriptions run over the summer so you can just encourage your DD to play maths games as and when there are odd chunks of time (before dinner, before bath, before going out, before a friend arrives, etc...). The 'library' section will have maths lessons/ quizzes on various topics for each NC Level of the curriculum. With DD1 I spent the summer before Y5 (finishing NC L4 work) and the summer before Y6 (finishing NC L5 work). This didn't go down well with the school - but it's a free resource and all the literature is clear that they are happy for parents/ pupils to do more at home if they want to.

If you're worried about overall poor calculation skills (so more the understanding how to do things - maybe calculate percentages/ handle proportions or fractions - you may want to look into arithmetic school on mathsfactor. It will test your child and start from where they are at. My daughter completed the arithmetic school just after sitting the 11+ and it was a great help. link: www.themathsfactor.com/ - what I like about it is there is a lesson (Carol Vorderman briefly explaining how to perform a specific maths calculation), a warm-up and then some practice doing it yourself. There are also one-off things you can do - revision club/ summer school. All info there on the website.

I will say that the 10 minute bonds are pretty painless (10 - 20 questions) but cover such a wide range of calculation skills that they are a brilliant way of highlighting where there are gaps in understanding or weaknesses. We started with 9 - 10 (start Y5) and worked through to 11-12 year old books by summer before Y6. We did these a few times a week (2-3) during Year 5. DD1 liked the short burst and to be honest it matched how the Durham CEM is administered in that you have short sections which you do on a topic for a 10 - 15 minute period of time. We moved up books when she was consistently getting high scores. However I will warn you if your grammars are Durham CEM the timings are very tight - so prepare your DC for this and explain that they may not finish sections.

HTH

Yes we do have my maths which she enjoys - but tends to prefer the games. She has enjoyed squeebles but didn't really take to dragon box. She particularly likes programmes where she can earn points to do something/ 'buy' something. It is the Kent test she will sit but we don't know what the format will be in 2015 - they've only recently announced 2014 format. I am not pinning all our hopes on the test - there are other good schools around, just want to give her the option.

Hi 3 bunnies:

Don't underrate gaming to help improve calculation skills.

My maths has some brilliant games - there is a fantastic platform game where you have to solve various problems which progressively get harder jumping round from floor to floor or climbing ladders whilst robots try to catch you. It's kind of maths tag. Can't remember the name off the top of my head - but have a look at the options.

Certainly Snaky sums is brilliant for reviewing multiplication skills.

If more stress would help (because Snaky sums has very little implications if you select the wrong answer) - try Timez Attack www.bigbrainz.com/ - the free version is brilliant, the game reviews mutliplication tables from where your DC is at & shows problems as both multiple additions and old fashioned vertical problems. Very addictive and really helps increase speed/ recall. I used this with both DDs for that stage where they knew their times tables but couldn't recall them very quickly - in both cases (with a bit of freaking out - the big OGRE is pretty scary) - it really bedded down their times table facts to x12 - and was just fun/ not practice.

HTH

Forgot to say regarding My Maths we spent the summer before Year 5 finishing all L4 maths lessons (DD1 was big on this because her friends sitting the 11+ started doing this during Year 4) so that from Y5 we could work (about 1 a week) gradually through NC L5 lessons. You can access these yourself through the Library Option on My Maths.

I tended to sit with DD1 through this - just to make sure she 'got it' and to see how she did on the quiz. There were a few that took several goals to get 90%+ - but usually she got it first time out. Also found this provided some geometry practice (which may be covered in Kent - although I only know Birmingham 11+ system).

One thing that is useful whilst you're doing math is talk about the language:

PENTAGON - coming from the greek for five (Penta) sided (-gon)
Hexagon - six (Hexa) sided (-gon)
Polygon - many (poly) sided (-gon)

dodekahedron - twelve (dodeka) faced (hedron)
tetrahedron - four (tetra) faced (hedron)

More info here: ancienthistory.about.com/od/mathematics/a/061210EtymologyGeometryTerms.htm

it's interesting & may well come in handy for verbal reasoning synonym/ antonym work.

HTH