Going into year 1

[Noodlenation]

Hi any cool cd suggestions to play in car to help with mental maths timetables etc? Also what is the best way to get quicker at addition and subtraction mentally? Any other resources? For a five year old. Thanks

Year 1 don't do timestables in the traditional sense, so I wouldn't expend much energy there unless they have all the other stuff nailed down. IME the more able learn to count in 2s, 5s, and 10s, as well as learning to double and half over the course of yr1. They use terms like 'lots of' or 'groups of' represented with objects, then later (in yr2) use arrays to make sure DCs have a grasp of what multiplication actually is before the rote learning of timestables begins in yr3. I left learning doubles and halves to school, but DCs loved various youtube videos for the counting in 2/5/10s and would put it to good use to help count out their pocket money. I've never found any timestables CDs that DCs enjoyed, but once they've learnt some timestables, the TT Rockstars website has been engaging.

Mental arithmetic for us has come naturally once DCs have become well practiced at counting forwards/backwards on their fingers from any given number, using number lines, and 100 squares, and are secure with number bonds and other number 'facts'. There was another improvement once DD1 fully understood techniques such as bridging (again yr2 work. DD2 is just finishing yr1 currently). They need the solid base of how numbers work together first on paper, then you can talk them through the paper steps in their head, until one day they just 'know' how to do it (and often can't tell you how they know, they "just do"). Both my DCs have loved Sumdog for basic arithmetic, and I'm sure I've seen it is going to be free over the summer, so that might be worth a look.