Maths workbooks or resources recommendations please for struggling Y8

[Celeriacacaca]

DS, Y8, has done badly in recent tests so I'm wondering if there are any workbooks suitable for a Y8 that you'd recommend please? Not revision guides, as such, but something he can work his way through so we can identify areas of weakness.

Would the workbooks, which can be used on their own or alongside the study guides, be okay?

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-answers-online/dp/1841460389/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371355&sr=1-4&keywords=ks3+cgp+books

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Year-Workbook-Curriculum/dp/0007562675/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-7&keywords=ks3+maths

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-answers-online/dp/1841460389/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-2&keywords=ks3+maths

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-online-Foundation/dp/1841460494/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-9&keywords=ks3+maths

www.amazon.co.uk/KS3-Maths-Workbook-Revision-Curriculum/dp/1844197565/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431371404&sr=1-10&keywords=ks3+maths

Great, thanks Hulababy. These look perfect. Thank you.

Hi Celeriacacaca

DD1 is only Y7 - so these resources may be old news for you - but we use:

BBC Bitesize KS3 Maths: www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zqhs34j - good explanation/ great for reviewing things - explains process/ games to test your knowledge - useful to use alongside homework that is tricky.

Corbett Maths 5 a day: corbettmaths.com/5-a-day/ - 5 random problems are various difficulty levels (organised by old GCSE grades) - worked answers are provided. DD1 likes the challenge but it is only 1 problem in an area - so if there is an area of weakness and more practice is needed you probably will have to go elsewhere for that.

some useful links from Wyvern College for KS3 revision: wyvernmathsrevision.wordpress.com/ks3/

If your school has My Maths - you can do extra homeworks/ lessons on your own. Useful if there is an area of weakness exposed by Corbett 5 a day problems.

Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org/ - free website with videos where the workings are shown while a disembodied voice explains how to do it/ demonstrates the process. really useful when you just want a reminder on how to do something - i.e. calcualte volume of a cone? www.khanacademy.org/math/basic-geo/basic-geo-volume-surface-area/basic-geo-volumes/v/volume-cone-example - you can join and follow their maths programme independently at home.

NRich Maths website - from Cambridge University - is about using your existing maths skills with challenging problems. Really builds those problem solving skills. It does take a certain amount of confidence - but I've found if maths is more of a puzzle than a chore it tends to be more enjoyable: link to Nrich lower secondary: nrich.maths.org/secondary-lower

Finally - most schools offer maths homework assistance - sometimes in form of drop-in clinics or after school clubs. If your DS isn't taking advantage of that - encourage them to use it. Try having a go at homework day 1. Taking in tricky problems to the clinic day 2. With some extra help & explanation for older students/ teachers - they may just find it isn't as difficult as they think. Like anything it becomes easier with good coaching and practice - but I can appreciate football [or any other sport] may seem more fun than practising maths.

HTH