Yr 1 maths questions

[squashpie]

Got DS's report yesterday. All good but I'd like to help him on his maths a bit. It mentions that he needs to look for pattern in maths and to use it to help him solve problems such as place value. I don't know what this means. Anyone out there who can help?!

Also, he's got to develop his mental maths strategies. I've seen some schofield and sims books on this. Is working through those enough? I don't really know what mental maths is. Thanks for any advice!!

Ie, in 186 what does the 8 represent (I think).

If 12 +2 is 14, what would 22+2 be, so what would 82+2 be, why? So what would 12 +20 be, and 22+20. Can you see the pattern in the numbers, look at similar calculations, eg subtraction, is there a pattern here too. Add 10 to numbers, which place changes, by how much?

For mental maths strategies, it's not just a case of saying calculations out loud But ugh there is a case for learning specific number facts to aid your calculations, so for example if you learn all your number doubles to 10, (ie double 2, double 6 etc) you can use these facts to help calculate say 24+54 as you know double 4 is eight. Children in year 1 would be expected to know doubles to 10, number bonds to 10, ie 2+8, 3+7 etc as well as addition and subtraction facts ( so 5 is 1+4,2+3,etc) usually to 10 too!

Schofield and Sims are more like weekly test papers and your DS's school is already likely using them already or will use them next year. I prefer the Bond No Nonsense Maths books as they actually explain each concept then ask questions related to that one concept.
I suggest you do 1 page of bond every day or every 2 days in the school holidays (each page should take around 10-15mins) starting with the 5-6 years book to give him confidence). If you just do a little bit extra every day then it won't feel stressful for you or your DS

Top that up with some number bond practice as primarymum says.

I haven't bought this book myself yet (it's on my Amazon wishlist!), but it's been recommended by various MNers so may be worth a go?

and as belle says place value is what value each digit in a number actually means.

so in 186, 1 is 100, 8 is 80 (8 tens) and 6 is 6 units.

you could split them up e.g.

46 = __ + 6

73 = 70 + __ etc

this book is on my wishlist too...

Thanks so much for everyone's replies.

primarymum - Are the Bond no nonsense books specifically for mental maths problems? Or are they more general?

Does anyone know of a resource which lists all the mental maths facts that primary school kids (or older for that matter! I like to think ahead!) need to learn?

MMM thanks for those book links - I've got the maths for primary mums and dads and it was certainly a first step but each school seems to teach things at different times, certainly within infants and there wasn't enough specific bullet-point detail whereby I could say, ok he needs to know this this this by, say, the end of infants. As I say, I could really do with a bullet point list of mental maths facts for primary school kids. he does know his number bonds now off by heart, but not addition facts to 5 or whatever. And then I suppose I develop those facts so that he knows how to work out adding/ subtraction for double/ triple digit numbers?? I can see why he's behind with this if I'm so blind to it all. !!!

Ask the school for its mental maths or calculations policy. This should tell you what the school expects children to cover in various year groups and how it will be taught

this may be of use?