Maths Tips From Maths Insider | Quick tips and practical advice to help you guide your child to math

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Maths Tips From Maths Insider Quick tips and practical advice to help you guide your child to maths successProdigy Math Game Review Short version I gave money to a stranger on the internet for an upgrade to Prodigy Math game, a math program that I wasn t initially a fan of and for something that I already had the free version of.Long version I use Life of Fred math with my home schooled 10 year old. He loves it but the delivery of our next book had been delayed. So I decided to use this as a chance to test some online math programs in the meantime. Prodigy Game being one of them. Read on for my Prodigy Math Game review!Introducing my Prodigy Math Game ReviewI d heard others rave about Prodigy Math but I m not usually a fan of gamified math, as often kids spend too much time playing inside the game and not enough time “mathing” OR kids just think the games are lame because the game play is not as good as whatever the latest big game studio thing is they like playing.After trying a few other programs none of which impressed my son I finally got round to setting him up on Prodigy Math. He spent 20 mins scoffing about how rubbish the gameplay was but then voluntarily came back to it later on in the day and played for another 30 mins, even tackling hated (for him) topics like long multiplication and decimal subtraction and learning new topics such as mean, mode and median. Each question has a built in hint which gives a brief explanation for how to solve that type of question but realistically students need to have studied the topic previously as the hints are brief and quite general or have a parent on hand to help them.An addictive math gameThe following day my son played for an hour and declared he needed the paid version. Now the full price is $8.99 a month paid monthly or $4.99 a month paid up front for the year. I m happy to pay for educational stuff BUT I ve also recently discovered the world of Group Buys where a group of parents club together (usually on FB Groups) and get a discounted rate on a program. I ve bought a few things in recent months this way (including a fab story app and a typing app). The Group Buy rate for Prodigy Game was $14 for the whole year.So my son complained about how he can t believe I gave money to a stranger on the internet and that how he s going to have wait at least another 8 days to get the upgrade which will get him more coins, armour, pets etc. however, despite this he approached another hour on the game that day.I was impressed! The gameplay is kitsch (think Pokemon) but is fast, smooth and addictive. The time spent on gaming compared to the time spent on the math is much better than on some other programs I ve tried (Education City I m looking at you!) There are even You tube channels where you can watch kids doing Prodigy Game “Let’s play” videos complete with them solving math problems. What a time to be alive!Setting up a free Prodigy Game accountBoth parent and teacher versions of Prodigy Game are FREE. The paid upgrade is primarily for the kids so they can level-up faster but the people  behind Prodigy claim that paid students end up playing for longer and making faster math progress because of the higher in-game rewards (my son’s single session record so far has been almost 3 hours on the game with me forcing him to stop!)On both the free and paid teacher versions you can assign specific topics for your child to work on using the Planner tool. This is a great way to reinforce topic that your child is working on at school or to revisit some of their weak spots from previous topics. With the planner you can choose to add questions on topics from the US, Canada or UK curriculum.Prodigy Game Group BuyBy the way, my Group Buy did come through! The US/International Group Buy I used  for Prodigy Game is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/256935961369124/ You’ll need to set up a Prodigy Game parent or teacher account first (it doesn’t matter which and you can switch between them.)Do you agree with my Prodigy Math Game Review? Has your child tried Prodigy Game? Let me know in the comments below.ShareTweetprintemail I ve invited Mark Maclaine, a London based super tutor specialising in maths, science and school admissions, to share his best maths exam revision tips for panic-free exams.To really get to grips with your maths exam revision, you’ll need to use techniques that actively help you engage with the topics. Reading through notes and copying out questions will only get you so far, so for the times when you want to try changing up your revision plan, these are my 5 best maths exam revision tips.1. Practise past papersWorking through past papers is the best way to get an understanding of the exam format and different types of questions that will come up. Remember that it’s vital you practise past papers under timed conditions! You won’t have unlimited time in the exam, so timing yourself will help you get to know what you’re capable of getting done in the exam. As you get used to the question formats, you’ll get more comfortable with the questions and quicker at knowing how to approach them.Ensure you review the papers with a mark scheme and take the time to understand why your answer might be wrong instead of marking your work without looking over it properly. It might be frustrating initially, but you can’t always memorise your way to success with maths, so ensuring you have a thorough understanding is key. If the mark scheme provides more than one method for solving a question then ensure that you look over other ways you could have approached it. This can be a useful way to deepen your knowledge and challenge yourself to grow.You should also always remember that there’s no shame in getting things wrong in fact, making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn. Whilst it’s easy to put off the more challenging questions, it’s important that you focus on getting better in these areas as soon as possible. Doing past papers helps to identify questions that need some more work so you can prioritise these. After all, practise makes perfect.2. Group revisionTwo heads are better than one, and two people working together have a better chance of solving something than you on your own. Whilst you don’t need to limit yourself to working with one other person, make sure that you keep your group relatively small to help you stay on track with work.Chances are the people in your group will each have different things that they’re good at, so there’ll be plenty that they can help you with, and equally a lot that you can help them with. One of the most powerful learning methods is actually teaching. Taking turns to explain concepts to one another will encourage you to solidify your knowledge and will very quickly expose areas you might need to work on. The more fun you make this the easier it will be to do! Try to challenge each other to find faster and more efficient methods if you can.3. Write yourself instructionsIf you can’t set up a study group, the next best way of reinforcing what you’ve learnt is by explaining questions to yourself. As with any skill, it takes time to get comfortable new concepts. Writing down the steps you have to take to answer a question will simplify the process for you, as well as help to make it stick in your memory. Order your instructions into a list or flowchart that you can refer to time and time again.To avoid confusion when you come back to your instructions, make sure you explain it in as much detail as possible. Imagine that you’re explaining the process to someone else who has no knowledge in the area. This will help you when you revisit your revision and need some direction of where to start.4. FlashcardsFlashcards are useful for more concise snippets of information. Use flashcards to refresh your memory on the topics you cover by writing a prompt or question on one side and the answer on the other. When you have your flashcards ready, go through them and keep track of the ones you get right and wrong. Make sure you put the ones you get wrong to the back of the pile so that you can review them and ensure that doesn’t happen in the exam. You could also experiment with putting them up around the house and answering them each time you see a card. Eventually, you will have seen the question enough to know exactly how to handle it.You should also use your flashcards to help compile a last minute cheat sheet. A cheat sheet is essentially a flash card with all of the things you’ll want to look over right before your exam. Use your flashcards to compile the ultimate card with all of this information on, from formulae to technical vocab anything you might need fresh in your memory for the exam.5. Memorise (where possible)Whilst maths is mainly about understanding topics and applying this knowledge to questions, there are a few things that you can memorise to help you out in the exam. Make flashcards for circle theorems and SOHCAHTOA equations. Looking over these regularly will help ingrain them in your memory and ensure you don’t miss out on easy marks.Inputting numbers into a memorised formula is another one of the simplest way to boost your marks, so make sure you take the time to learn your formulae! To help remember these, try writing them over and over until they stick or put them up around your house.If you’re still struggling with your maths revision, seek out extra help. Whether it be from a parent, teacher, or tutor, someone else might be able to explain an area you’re struggling with in a way that it suddenly clicks for you.In need of a maths tutor in the UK? Look no further. Tutorfair is a website that allows you to find and book private tutors for face-to-face tuition. For every student who pays, Tutorfair give free tutoring to a child who can’t. With hundreds of verified tutors who specialise in Dyslexia, 11+, GCSEs, A-levels and degree level subjects, why not get in touch for some help with your maths?Mark Maclaine is a London based super tutor specialising in maths, science and school admissions, and co-founder of Tutorfair. Tutorfair is a website where parents and students can find and book local tutors or online tuition.ShareTweetprintemail Who doesn t love lego bricks? This simple toy appeals to kids of all ages and even holds the title of being the world s most powerful brand. Certainly in my household, my kids love to build with lego bricks and I love the fact that they are using math without realising it. For a more formal approach to using Lego bricks to teach math, check out these 10 awesome lego math videos for creative kids (and their parents!)1. Lego Color Sorting Activity For Preschool Math and Fine Motor DevelopmentPut your preschooler to work sorting their lego by color or size. Muffin tins or used egg cartons make excellent temporary containers for this activity. You could also buy sectioned containers so that the newly sorted lego stays organized for the long term.2. The simplest way to explain Math to Kids with LegoFractions are best served with a helping of physical objects. Give those pizzas a break and use lego math to demonstrate basic fractions and addition and subtraction of fractions. This video also shows how to use lego to represent square numbers.3. Maths with Lego: Improper fractions to Mixed NumbersThe idea of improper fractions is often difficult to demonstrate with real objects. This lego math video will walk you step-by-step through the process along with examples to solve alongside.4. Three Prisoners problem LEGO Star Wars MathA long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the force of mathematics was unleashed. Is the force strong with you? How can the prisoners work out which of them is to be executed. This video shows the solution to a classic  math problem The 3 Prisoners Problem acted out and explained using lego minifigs.5. Lego Perfect DiagonalsWatch this video to learn how to use geometry to solve a common problem for lego builders How to form perfect diagonals while still connecting to the studs.6. A Lego Brickumentary ClipIn 1958 LEGO estimated six standard LEGO bricks could come together nearly 103 million ways. Professor Soren Eilers calculated the real number 915 million ways. Discover how Professor Soren worked out the mathematical solution to tricky question.7. Teaching Division Basics Using LEGO® Bricks Brick Math SeriesDr Shirley Disseler walks through a series of division problems using lego bricks and shows how to form division sentences from the representations. Dr Shirley has also made videos in the Brick Math series with show how to use lego math to demonstrate factors, multiplication and fractions.8. Geometry Activity # 1 LEGOmaniacs Have Fun Building Math Activities LEGO Homeschooling LessonsBuild a variety of square-based structures using lego bricks. This video introduces the concept of squares being shapes of equal length and investigates how squares can be constructed with different shaped lego bricks.9. Pythagoras TheoremWatch this video prove Pythagoras Theorem using graph paper and lego bricks. This is a fantastic hands on way to explore this important math equation using lego.10. LEGO MATH : Fractions, Decimals, TenthsExplore the relationship between place value, fractions, decimals and tenths with this lego math video which features lego bricks, lego minifigs and even a tidy up lego AT-AT.Which is your favorite lego math video? Tell me in the comments below!ShareTweetprintemail Have you ever wondered what makes some people into natural mathematicians while others seem to struggle with grasping even basic concepts?  Do you wonder whether there are things you should be doing to help your children reach their potential in math?  Here’s my rundown of recent math education research into how we learn, and how best to develop your child s math skills.1 Babies’ spatial reasoning predicts later math skills.Stella Lourenco, a psychologist from Emory University conducted a study showing that babies with a stronger interest in a video stream of mirrored images went on to have greater mathematical skill at age four than those with less interest.This may be why some people seem to have a natural aptitude for math, while others find it difficult.  The good news is that spatial reasoning can improve with training.  Lourenco suggests that an increased focus on this area in early math education could be helpful.Action Point:  Provide opportunities to develop spatial skills.  Traditional shape sorters, puzzles, and stacking toys are ideal for this.  Also, try some of my Short and Sweet Preschool Math Activities.2 Math difficulties may reflect problems in a crucial learning system in the brain.Procedural memory governs our mastery of non-conscious skills, things like driving.  In this research, Tanya M. Evans PhD shows that procedural memory is also important in developing math ability.  She suggests that problems with underlying brain structure could be at the root of math difficulties.Action Point:  Storytelling can be a great way to support the development of procedural memory.  The structure helps children to remember what comes next, setting them in good stead for math concepts later on.3 Parents’ math skills ‘rub off’ on their children.A recent University of Pittsburgh study shows that we transfer our math skills to our children.  Math education researchers found that a child’s performance in standardised tests could be predicted by looking at a parent’s performance in similar examinations.  Action Point: Your understanding is key to developing your child’s understanding.  If you’re not confident in your own abilities, try Khan Academy or a similar programme to boost your performance in the basics.4 Math and me:  Children who identify with math get higher scores.Self-talk influences our performance throughout life.  Math is no different.  Dario Cvencek’s study shows that performance in math tests links to stereotypes. This in turn determines how children think of themselves as math learners.  For example, girls who subscribe to the theory that ‘math is for boys’ will tend to have weaker mathematical ability.  Researchers measured explicit and subconscious beliefs in children through a range of tests. They then monitored their results in standardised tests at the end of the school year.  They found that implicit, subconscious beliefs affected math scores while explicit beliefs did not.  Action Point:  Cvencek says, “If we can boost children’s math self-concepts early in development, this may also help boost their actual math achievement and interest in the discipline.”  4 Watching the brain do math.Using MRI technology, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have been able to see what’s happening in the brain while students are solving maths problems.  They identified four distinct stages of the thought process: encoding, planning, solving and responding.  Using MRI, they analysed how long respondents spent on each stage of the process.Action Point:  Professor John Anderson hopes that his research will eventually lead to improvements in classroom instruction.5 The brain performs feats of math to make sense of the world.The orbitofrontal cortex, just behind the eyes, carries out a constant stream of calculations and computations. All this without us being consciously aware of what’s happening.  This process shapes our behaviour and reactions to situations.  Using a safari park simulation, researchers from Princeton University demonstrated that people could accurately decide which area of the virtual park a specific group of animals had come from, based on their previous experience in the game.  This ability would have been important to our ancestors’ daily survival, and it’s just as crucial for us today.  Even those without confidence in their math skills can take heart from the fact that our brains have an innate ability to conduct complex mathematical computations.6 Finger tracing can lift student performance in math.Getting young children to trace letters and numbers with their fingers is a standard part of early childhood education.  Recent research by Dr Paul Ginns suggests that this benefit extends to other areas as well, specifically, solving math problems.  A survey of children aged 9-16 in Sydney showed that using the index finger to trace over important elements of algebra and geometry problems helped to improve their skill in solving those problems.Action Point:  If you have young children, you probably already encourage them to trace letters and numbers.  Try to find ways to maintain that habit as they get older.  One suggestion is to let them see you modelling the behaviour as you try to figure out measurements for DIY or craft projects.7 Improving math in sixth graders.Marije Fagginger Auer’s research shows that “children can benefit from writing down their calculations, especially the more vulnerable group with lower ability”.  Current trends lean towards a heavy focus on mental strategies that don’t require children to ‘show their workings’.  This research found that a written process of working out the solution resulted in a higher proportion of correct answers, although this took more time.  Action Point: The results of this math education research will be used to improve teacher training programmes.  Meanwhile, it’s easy to encourage children to write down their process for answering questions. This will work especially well in areas they find more challenging.8 Math study shows our brains are far more adaptable than we know.This fascinating research shows that blind people have the same innate numerical reasoning abilities as sighted people.  It was previously thought that the basic number sense present in humans and animals was related purely to sight.  This study found that, in blind people, the visual cortex plays an important role in numerical reasoning.Co-author of the study, Marina Bedny says that the findings suggest that the brain as a whole is far more adaptable than previously believed.  “If we can make the visual cortex do math, in principle, we can make any part of the brain do anything.”9 Simple numbers game seems to make kids better at math.Games are a great way to boost math learning, we know that already.  It’s also been known for a while that a highly developed sense of number in infancy can predict later math success.  Johns Hopkins University researchers have taken this a step further with a study that suggests that games can bolster an innate sense of mathematical awareness.  Children were given a game to play on a tablet, where they had to decide whether there were more blue or yellow spots on the screen at one time.  This had to be done quickly, without counting.  Testing after the dots game found that those children who played the ‘proper’ version of the game (with questions progressing from easiest to hardest) performed much better.Action Point: This study shows that even a small investment of time can pay dividends.  It is well worth adding a few number games and activities to your days.10 Online gaming can boost school scores.Research from RMIT University, Melbourne, shows that playing video games can sharpen teenagers’ math skills, while Facebook and other social networking sites can dull them.  Associate Professor Alberto Posso said, “Students who play online games almost every day score 15 points above the average in maths and 17 points above the average in science.”  Action Point: One recommendation from this study is that teachers should try to incorporate popular video games into their classes, providing that they’re not violent games.  11 Tutoring relieves math anxiety, changes fear circuits in children.This research has found that one-to-one tutoring can not only improve math ability but also treat math anxiety itself.  Using fMRI scans on children with high math anxiety, researchers showed that, after an eight-week tutoring programme, the brain’s fear circuits and amygdala were no longer activated by exposure to maths.Action Point:  If your child suffers from anxiety around math work, and you’ve been wondering whether a private tutor might help, maybe this is the confirmation you need.It’s interesting to read math education research, especially when it backs up what you already know.  You’ll find plenty of math resources here at Maths Insider to help you encourage your children as they grow their math abilities.  I especially love reading research into how very young children learn. It’s fascinating to understand the science behind the things that most of us do instinctively.  ShareTweetprintemail Are you keen to help your children cement the math skills they’re learning, but finding them less than willing to spend their free time practising times tables or number bonds?  Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to look around here at Maths Insider to see some of my suggestions for ways to make math practice more fun.  Here’s a list of math toys and games with a definite emphasis on fun and a whole lot of math learning thrown in for good measure.Number skills builders for preschoolers1 Smart Snacks Number Pops – a fun way to encourage number recognition and fine motor skills at the same time.  Match the numbers to the dots and slide the coloured shell over the corresponding lolly.Contains 10 ice cream pops.  Recommended for age 2+.2 Melissa Doug’s Stack Count Parking Garage is a sturdy, colourful toy that will appeal to car-crazy toddlers, and teach them their numbers while they play.  Your kids will love dropping the wooden cars into the slot and seeing them fit neatly on top of the car beneath.Recommended for age 2+.Cool math for young kids3 In this Math Explosion Game, the math side of things takes a very definite second-place to the excitement of exploding a volcano!  The game uses customised math facts making it suitable for a range of ages to play together.  Math practice and volcanic eruptions – what’s not to like?2-4 players.  Recommended for age 5+.4 The Magnetic Apple Fractions toy helps link important math concepts with everyday experiences.  Colour-coded plastic pieces are held together by magnets to create a fun toy that helps develop awareness of fractions.  Comes with an activity guide to help you get the most out of it.Recommended for age 5+.5 Sequence for Kids looks just like a normal board game, it doesn’t scream ‘I’m an educational toy’, making it ideal for those of us with more cynical children.  A strategy-building game that can be played by non-readers but which is engaging enough for adults as well.  Throw in a side order of unicorns and dragons, and you’re sure to find this one a crowd-pleaser.2-4 players.  Recommended for ages 3-6.Engaging math games for older kids6 Do you fancy being a Super Math Spy?  Use your super-fast mental math skills to carry out secret missions.  Complete with spy goggles and finger-print cards, this is a fun game that’s never the same.  A great way to encourage the kind of speed and automatic recall of facts that we all know is so important for later math success.2-4 players.  Recommended for age 7+.7 Make-a-Monster Math Test Prep Games.  Spin the spinner, answer math questions, and race to build your own funny monster.  Specifically designed to target skills needed for standardised state and national tests.  This link is to the Grade 3 set, but it’s available for Grades 3-5.2-4 players.  Recommended for age 8+.8 The best games are easy to learn but challenging to play.  Flip 4 fits right into this category.  A fun way to practice basic math skills and develop strategic thinking at the same time.2-4 players.  Recommended for age 8-12.9 Build space rockets and explore the solar system in Xtronaut: The Game of Solar System Exploration.  This game offers an awesome introduction to rocket science and space exploration while developing strategic thinking and planning skills.  Developed by the leader of the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission, it contains a wealth of real-world learning.2-4 players.  Recommended for age 7+.10 An irresistible curiosity that is bound to attract young and old alike.  The Clever Catch Multiplication Ball is a large inflatable ball covered in math problems.  Perfect for either organised game-play or informal exploration.Recommended for Grades 3-7.11 Think Fun’s Gravity Maze has 60 challenges across four play levels, so it will keep your kids (and you) puzzling for a good long time.  Use your logic and spatial reasoning skills to figure out how to create a path that will take the marble to the target tower.  A simple concept with endless variationsSingle-player.  Recommended for ages 8-15 years.12 The Ozbot Bit is a tiny (just over 1”) robot that you programme yourself.  Start with basic colour-coded commands, and progress to OzoBlockly, which allows you to fully programme your robot.  Coding is the latest buzz in STEM education, and this is a fun way to back up what your kids are learning at school.Recommended for age 8+.13 The Laser Maze Logic Game, also from Think Fun, is another game designed to develop sequential reasoning and hone those planning skills.  Arrange the mirrored tokens to reflect the laser beam onto the targets in 60 different challenges at a range of levels.Single-player.  Recommended for ages 8-15 years.14 Do your kids like to play to an audience?  Are they budding performers and entertainers?  If so, the 4M Math Magic Puzzles and Games set could be the perfect addition to your rainy-day cupboard.  They’ll learn to perform 15 math tricks and amazing speed calculations to wow friends and family.Recommended for age 8+.Fabulous geometry fun for the whole family15 K’NEX is a classic toy that works on many levels.  This Elementary Math and Geometry Building Set tallies up with national standards and common core requirements.  Use the teacher’s guide and building instructions, or simply play and experiment – they’ll be learning without even realising it.Set suitable for 3-4 children to use together.  Recommended for ages 2-16.If you’ve liked these math toys and games ideas, click on over to my list of Brain-Building Math Board Games for Curious Kids for even more inspiration.ShareTweetprintemail Sumaze! is a cool problem-solving app that helps kids and adults build an intuitive approach to math. I ve been playing it for for past week and it really is kind of addictive!What I also love about it is that it s low stakes no timers and no negative audio sounds when you get the puzzle wrong, so it s perfect for nervous young mathematicians!Sumaze’s puzzles involve arithmetic, inequalities, the modulus function, indices, logarithms and primes and players don t need ANY previous knowledge of these topics in order to play. This app was created by the UK organization Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) and the Sigma network who provide  support for excellence in mathematics and statistics.If you and your family loved the Dragonbox suite of apps you ll love this too!Watch the video below to see some of the Sumaze gameplay:Sumaze! 2 is now also available. It includes puzzles which involve fractions, decimals, percentages, primes and digits.ShareTweetprintemail By far the most popular post on Maths insider is my post,  8 Things to Hate About Kumon! As a former Kumon instructor who now works as an instructor with Thinkster Math (formerly Tabtor) I’m writing this post to give a unique perspective as someone who has worked for both companies.At Thinkster Math I look after many, many ex-Kumon students including a family with 4 kids who switched from Kumon so that their children could explore the wider curriculum that Thinkster Math offers. So whether your kids are currently doing Kumon, another math program or you’re just starting to look into math programs to support your child’s math, let me share with you the 8 things to love about Thinkster Math.1. Thinkster is great valueThinkster Math pricing compares brilliantly to Kumon, Mathnasium and personal tutors. Prices start from $60 per month which includes one-on-one math coaching as well as unlimited worksheets.More details hereAnd don’t forget there’s also the cost of your time as the parent who has to take your child to the tutor/learning center each week.2. Thinkster Math Instructors are qualified teachersThinkster Math actually uses qualified educators. I’m a Cambridge University educated qualified high school math teacher and many Thinkster Math instructor have spent many years as teachers. Kumon prioritises business experience over teaching experience when it comes to choosing franchisees to run their centers. Thinkster Math focuses on math teaching experience and ability.3. Thinkster Math actually teaches your childThe Thinkster Math program contains built-in instruction videos for each topic not just a few written examples. Step by step solutions are also shared when students get questions wrong. Students have regular one to one tutoring sessions so that their tutor can review questions they got wrong with them, introduce any tricky concepts in the upcoming worksheets or even help with school homework.4. Thinkster Math offers a broad and varied curriculumThinkster Math s world-class curriculum is based on Singapore Math and other world-class curricula. It is then customized for each country according to the state/provincial standards. As a result it contains a confidence building mix of arithmetic, word problems and logic problems to build important skills for future mathematicians5. Thinkster Math takes personalization seriouslyThinkster Math is a US based company with instructors around the world but our work is overseen by senior staff who we meet with regularly online and are available to help instructors, parents and students alike. Also, Academic Advisors take care to match new Thinkster Math families with instructors based on their specific needs. In the rare cases where parents want to change instructors, they can do so quickly and easily.6. Problem solving is at the core of the Thinkster Math programMost students join Thinkster Math with weak problem solving skills, even if they are strong at math in general. Problem solving is so important when it comes to math. Computers are able to process numbers far more quickly and more accurately than humans can, and those who have strong problem solving skills will be the ones in demand in the workplace. Thinkster Math puts problem solving at the core of it’s curriculum, including basic problem solving even in it’s Kindergarten worksheets.7. Thinkster Math supports and extends kids school mathThinkster Math worksheets use the math methods and techniques which have been proven to lead to a deeper understanding of math. With 1000’s of worksheets available, Instructors able able to build a specially tailored study plan to support and extend the student’s school math learning.8. Thinkster Math builds mathematicians not just arithmeticiansIf you put a Kumon student head to head with a Thinkster Math student and give them 100 arithmetic questions the Kumon student will win (the Thinkster Math student will still be ahead of the rest of the class though).However if you give a Kumon student a series of logic or problem solving questions the Thinkster Math student will come out top.One of my Thinkster Math students was lamenting that in the weekly timed times tables tests at school he always finishes in 3rd place, slightly behind the Kumon kids. I offered to add in some concentrated times tables worksheets into his worksheet queue, even though we had moved beyond that stage in the curriculum, but he said, “No thank you Caroline. My teacher actually said that everyone in the class needs a lot of practice with word problems except me so I don’t mind continuing with the work you’ve given me!”Have you tried Kumon and/or Thinkster Math? Tell me in the comments below!Click below for a 10% discount for 3 months:Read more about  Kumon and Thinkster Math:8 Things to Hate about Kumon – A ReviewAbout Kumon The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Is Thinkster Math a Real Alternative to Kumon?ShareTweetprintemail With summer coming up, I’m on the lookout for a new game or two to liven up quiet afternoons.  It’s an added bonus if I can sneak a little math practice in without anyone noticing what I’m up to.  Here are my top twelve picks for fun games with math skills at the core.  Take a look at this previous post on math board games for even more inspiration.1. Smash-Up GameAliens, Ninjas, Pirates, Dinosaurs and more battle to smash more bases than the opposing team.  Eight different factions and dozens of combinations to try.  ‘It s really fast setup, it s really fast play … It s easy to pick up the rules.’  2-4 players, recommended for age 13+.2. Melissa Doug Shut-The-BoxA deceptively simple game, this is a favourite for all ages in our house.  An easy way to practice number bonds for younger children, with plenty of strategy to keep everyone else interested.  ‘This a great coffee table game for adults, as well as beginning adders!’  2-4 players, recommended for age 6+.3. Educational Insights Shelby’s Snack Shack GameA counting game that will appeal to pre-schoolers and slightly older children alike.  Simple number recognition, and beginning addition and subtraction skills are used to help Shelby find the bones she’s buried at the beach.  ‘Parents (or relatives or friends) of pre-schoolers: Look no further, this is a perfect gift!’ 2-4 players, recommended for ages 4-10.4. Prime Climb A blend of strategy and sheer luck makes this an appealing game regardless of your mathematical ability.  You’ll practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using the colour-coded board to scaffold the learning.   ‘Engaging and challenging enough that no one was bored but easy enough to understand that no one was frustrated.’  2-4 players, recommended for age 10+.5. Clumsy Thief A fast-paced card game to practice addition skills.  A winning mixture of luck and tactics make this a fun and engaging game.  ‘As a homeschool mom, I love anything that has my kids learning but makes it so much fun, they don t even realize that they ARE learning!’  2-6 players, recommended for age 8+.6. Brain Quest Smart GameDifferent question levels mean that this game works well for mixed age groups.  Race to answer questions on Science, Math, Arts, Reading, and The World.  ‘One thing that is so great is you can start playing with your 1st grader and go all the way through 6th grade.’  2-4 players, recommended for ages 6-12.7. Task Cards: Word Problems Grade 3 Board GameContains 100 different task cards for word problem practice.  Write-on/Wipe-off cards are always appealing to children, and these are linked to Common Core Standards to help you target specific areas for improvement.  Suitable for individual and group use, recommended for ages 7-8.8. Make 7A simple game to encourage familiarity and speed at additon.  The aim is to get your number tiles to add up to seven in any direction.  ‘The strategy is very deep. Something like a chess game but much quicker.’  2 players, recommended for age 7+.9. Farkle  Quick set-up, and super easy to learn.  Like all the best games, strategy and chance both play their part.  ‘Great game, tons of fun, easy to learn.’  2+ players, recommended for age 8+.10. Teacher Created Resources Jumpin’ Chips Multiplication Five different games in one.  Master multiplication facts to 12 12 in these checkers-type games.  ‘Students love this game. They ask to play all the time and even ask to borrow it to bring home.’  1-4 players, recommended for ages 7-11.11. City of Zombies Maths Board Game Roll the dice and try to stop the zombies in their tracks.  A flexible cooperative game that can be easily adapted to focus on different areas of math.  ‘What price would you be willing to pay for a bit of argument-free time, knowing that your kids are totally absorbed in a game that does not pit one child against another but makes them combine forces against a common enemy?’  1-6 players, recommended for age 5+.  (Please note, this game only ships from the UK).12. Times Square – A Fast Fun Times Tables Maths Game Play this as a standalone game, or use it to expand the City of Zombies game above.  Easy and fast to learn, and provides hours of fun.  ‘The game comes fully differentiated with a range of different play modes, and tips to make it easier or harder, which can be swapped in and out at a moment s notice.’1-6 players, recommended for age 7+.   (Please note, this game only ships from the UK).ShareTweetprintemail Math Quote InspirationAre you looking for some cool and beautiful math inspiration? Check out the Math Quote GIF s below that highlight the eternal beauty of math.For more math inspiration check out my post 13 Cool, Beautiful and Inspirational Math Quotes. Enjoy! Wherever there is number, there is beauty. -Proclus The book of nature is written in the language of Mathematic -Galileo Mathemathics is the queen of the science Carl Friedrich Gauss The advancement and perfection of Mathematics are intimately connected with the prosperity of the State -Napoleon A Mathematician who is not also something of a poet will never be a complete mathematician -Karl Weierstrass The mathematician does not study pure mathematics because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it and he delights in it because it is beautiful Georg Cantor Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. -Albert Einstein Do not worry too much about your difficulty in mathematics, I can assure you that mine are still greater. -Albert Einstein How can it be that mathematics, a product of human thought independent of experience, is so admirably adapted to the objects of reality? -Albert Einstein Beauty is the first test; there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics. -Godfrey Harold Hardy The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment. Alfred North Whitehead A Man is like a fraction whose numerator is what he is and whose denominator is what he thinks of himself. The larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction. -Tolstoy All mathematicians share a sense of amazement over the infinite depth and mysterious beauty and usefulness of mathematics. -Martin Gardner in the fall of 1972, President Nixon announced that the rate increase of inflation was decreasing. This was the first time a president used the third derivative to advance his case for re-election. -Hugo Rossi He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. -Confucius Which is your favorite of the above Math Quotes? Do you have any other inspirational quotes about math to share? Let me know!ShareTweetprintemail Have you ever found yourself going round and round in circles when trying to help your child with math? Believe it or not I ve been there! Yes I m a math teacher a lover of mathHello, this is Caroline from www.mathsinsider.com and I m going to talk today about a question that a Maths insider reader asked which was,” How can I help my child with their maths if I m not a math person?”I understand where you re coming fromSo to start off, I’d just like to say that I obviously I really like maths, I love sciences, I like geography, history I like most of the subjects, but one of the subjects that I don’t feel completely confident in supporting my kids in is English or Language Arts. I kind of like reading sometimes, I don’t like fiction, most of what I read is nonfiction and the whole kind of grammar and constructing sentences is just not my kind of thing. I obviously like to write a bit, hopefully if you ve looked on Maths Insider you’ll see that, but I can feel you when you say that you feel as you’re not a maths person, I feel as though I m not like a languages kind of person, and to make things more interesting, I am actually home schooling my 9 year old, so I need to support his English learning, his writing and his grammar.This is my advice based on my knowledge of maths and my experience as a home schooling mother who has to support her children s English learning.1. Research math education tipsNo. 1 is to do lots of research, Maths Insider obviously, is a good place to start, I ve got lots of articles about how to help your child with maths, but also look in other places, there are some good Facebook groups you can have a look at, or school support Facebook groups and also some home school groups. There’s lots of information in home school groups about how to help your child with maths. Often you can get drawn into a political discussions about, is Common Core good or is this method bad, but it s best to just research, just have a look at the different kinds of ideas.2. Pick suitable math resourcesMy 2nd tip is to pick resources that suit you and your child, because you ve got your different strengths and weaknesses, your child has different strengths and weaknesses and preferences, so if your child has been at school all day, where they are likely to have done lots of writing, and they come home, don’t let them do lots and lots of worksheets. Maybe pick something that s an app or a printable board game or just some oral questions. So try to tune any resources that you use, try to tune into what resources will work for you and your child.3. Learn the math with your childThe last tip is to learn with your child, so for example if you need to help your child with addition of fractions with different denominators, then learn how to add fraction with different denominators with your child. So Google adding fractions with different denominators. Australia year 4 for example, if that is your country or Common Core grade 4 or UK year 4 or year 5 and have a look to see what videos are available, if there are images available, if some examples are available and sit with your child and show them, “Look I m not really sure about this, but let s learn this together,” and that is actually going to help your child feel better, because it s not okay sort of, you know everything and they know nothing and you re going to put the information their heads, it s, So okay, there is a problem here let s figure this out together. So if I go back to the beginning:No. 1 is to research, look at Maths Insider, look on Facebook groups (the Maths Insider Community FB Group would be a great place to start!) and another good tip for researching, I forget to say this earlier on, is actually go to the book store, get a workbook and maybe have a look at the book for younger than your child’s grade level for your child’s grade level and have a look in the contents page because then you d likely find a list of the topics. So flip through the books and you ll be able to see, “Oh yes, my child does know this, this, this and this, but maybe this they don’t know.” So that s a good way of trying to figure out exactly what kind of topics you are going to need to support your child in.Number 1 is do your researchNumber 2 is pick resources that suits you and your child’s learning style and teaching styleNumber 3 is learn with your child Get my free ebook! Enter your email below to get myFREE ebook Yes! You Can Be Your Child's Maths Tutor! A Practical 29 page Workbook to Help YOU Tutor Your Child Maths. In addition, you'll receive my weekly blog posts, packed with tips and advice to help you guide your child to maths success, direct to your inbox! 2018 Maths Tips From Maths Insider. Powered by the Get Noticed! Theme.

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Quick tips and practical advice to help you guide your child to maths success

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