Learning Age: 7 to 11 Years

Learning Track: Numeracy Part 2

Mental Maths: Regular Practice

R egular practice of the skills learnt so far will enable your child to become fluent and confident with Mental Maths.

Regular practice does not mean long boring sessions for your child at a desk ! Far from it - we want to foster enthusiasm and confidence.

Instead we have pooled together some fast game style activities that your child can do in about 15 minutes each day.

One very successful strategy parents use to ensure regular practice is to only allow certain activities after the practice gets completed. This might mean you say to your child thay they can have time on their games console only once they have completed these sessions.

Ideally, your child will have a session with you practicing, followed by a session of their own play. Repeat this during the day using your own judement, remembering to keep the practice sessions play-like and fun.

Many parents have used this method to curb their child's excessive use of games consoles or TV watching. Unsurprisingly, the earlier you start this makes it easier to do.

Counting Practice

With regular counting your child becomes more 'fluent' with numbers.

Choose a few activities from the list below, depending on the time you and your child have and your childs level reached so far -

Count to 100.

Count in 2’s, to 10.
Count in 5’s, to 20.
Count in 10’s, to 100.

Count backwards in 2’s, from 10 to 0.
Count backwards in 5’s, from 20 to 0.
Count backwards in 10’s, from 50 to 0.
Count backwards in 10’s, from 100 to 0.
Count backwards in 2’s, from 10 to 0.

Mental Maths Practice

Here are some games you can play with your child that will give them a good Mental Maths workout.

"What Number ?"

"What Numbers Can be Added Together to Get X"

"What Numbers Can be Added Together to Get 10"

"Maths Attack"

Computer Based Mental Maths Practice using Mental Maths Master

One area where computer or the internet can be used successfully is generating mental maths questions for your child.

There are many such internet sites availble, but our Mental Maths Master software also works out what areas your child has problems. It offers an explains of what they need should be doing and informs you about what areas your should help your child in.

Some parents also offered 'mini-treats' to their child on completion of practice.