Can't afford the IPAD? Why not get the IPAD MINI?

IPAD MINI

The IPAD is an expensive piece of kit and not always affordable for the average parent. But by investing in an IPAD you are investing a great deal in your childrens future. Consider it a small investment compared to the cost of private tutoring. 
You can get good deals on refurbished iPads but if you want something brand new at a lower price why not go for the ipad mini?
The advantage of the IPAD mini is that it is a smaller, compact version of the iPad but a lot cheaper. It is easy to take on holiday and the kids can use it while going on long car journeys, waiting at airports etc. There are some fun maths games on it that will ensure that they are learning while they are playing. Though if the truth be told, a child finds the IPAD or IPAD mini fun however much maths it does on it!


Fun Maths Games for the IPAD Mini
1 Addition Wiz
2 Subtraction Wiz
3 Ladybird Maths
4 Number Lines
5Amazing Coins
6 Maths age 4-6
7 Maths Fractions Lite
8 Times Tables
9 Early Birds
10 Tick Tock

Maths and Literacy

 Maths and literacy go hand in hand. Give your children sums that are in writing  as opposed to numbers. Word problems are excellent for getting them thinking not only about maths but also builds their skills in reading, following instructions, understanding sequencing.

Here are some examples of word problems

1. John goes into a sweetshop and buys two lollies for 30p, 3 chocolate bars for a total of  £1.50. How much change does he get from a £5.00 note?

2. Sally is twice as tall as John. John is 50cms. How tall is Sally?

If you want some more word problems try:

http://uk.ixl.com/math/word-problems

HOW TO SELECT GREAT MATHS APPS FOR YOUR CHILD

Tips on How To Select Great Maths Apps For Your Child


It is not as difficult as you think to select a great Maths App for your child. Apple does give you a few helpful pointers along the way.

SELECT THE TOPIC 

1. Decide what topic your child needs to work on( you can tell this from how well they are doing at their homework. Or alternatively, select the topic your child has just studied that day at school eg fractions Key Stage 1 or number lines. 

TYPE INTO SEARCH BOX 

Type the chosen topic into the App stores search box and all the apps relevant to this topic will come up. Helpfully, the App store lists the most popular at the top, I usually go for these. There are reviews to help you choose. Most of them are free so you can go ahead and try a few and delete them until you find a couple that you are happy with. 

USE GENIUS

Genius is a great function on your IPAD as it remembers what you are searching for and provides you with a readymade selection of the most popular relevant apps to what you need. So don't forget to check it out when you are looking for Apps.



PLAY WITH THE APP

Once you have selected an App that you think will be helpful, (the best way is to download different apps and practise on them yourself and you will get an idea how your chid will respond to it).

DEMONSTRATE THE APP TO YOUR CHILD

 Demonstrate to your child how the activity or game works, play on it together rather than leaving your child to it. Once you are confident that they have got the hang of it just let them carry on.

Useful Maths Apps On the IPAD

1 Addition Wiz
2 Subtraction Wiz
3 Ladybird Maths
4 Number Lines
5Amazing Coins
6 Maths age 4-6
7 Maths Fractions Lite
8 Times Tables
9 Early Birds
10 Tick Tock

  

Top 5 Recommended Maths Websites

Maths Key Stage One

During Key Stage 1 pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of mathematics through practical activity, exploration and discussion. They learn to count, read, write and order numbers to 100 and beyond. They develop a range of mental calculation skills and use these confidently in different settings. They learn about shape and space through practical activity which builds on their understanding of their immediate environment. They begin to grasp mathematical language, using it to talk about their methods and explain their reasoning when solving problems.
If you can afford the IPAD, this allows children to cover a range of fun maths activities. It works well as there are no 'wrong' answers, just the opportunity to try again until you are successful. This builds confidence and is a great supplement to  classroom teaching and tutoring where there is often little time for practise and worksheets can quickly become tedious.

 

Recommended Websites for KS1 & KS2  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/

http://www.iXL.com

http://www.bond11plus.co.uk/

http://www.khanacademy.org

Find out exactly what is on the Curriculum by going to:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary/b00199044/

IPAD APPS FOR MATHS

IPAD FOR MATHS

The IPAD is an excellent addition for learning in any home. It is particularly so for Maths. Children can practise basic numeracy skills in a fun way. A refurbished Ipad from the Apple store can be had for around £259. It comes with a one year Warranty. 
Using the iPad enables a student to learn what ever they want to learn. Simply go to the App store on the iPad and type in whatever your child needs to practise in the Search button. For example, they might need to practise addition, or fractions. There are enough free apps or Apps under a £1 to meet most primary school children needs.
If you have more than one child, then it is even easier for you to support your child with their homework as one can work on the Ipad while you are helping the other. 
Undoubtedly the Ipad will one of the most valuable educational tools that you can buy for your child.

                                           

Practical Maths Activities

Practical Maths Activities

There are lots of activities you can play at home to encourage your child to enjoy playing with numbers.
By playing these games, they will also be picking up a lot of other useful skills e.g. scanning, mental maths, social skills eg sharing, taking turns etc.

Here are a few examples:

Play 'shop' put prices on packets etc

Dominoes

Flash cards

Snap

Playing cards

Play games with dice

Snakes and ladders

HELP!! MATHS SATS ARE UPON US KS2

ITS NOT TOO LATE TO HELP YOUR CHILD

KS2 Sats are being taken all over the country this month(13th-17th May). How can you help your child prepare? Apart from not panicking, you could really help your child by printing out a couple of old SATS papers and going over them. Its time to forget homework, its time to PRACTISE. Old papers are available online at: 
http://emaths.co.uk/KS2SAT.htm

Use the following technique:

1. Work through a couple of papers taking your time and discussing it with your child to ensure that they understand the maths. You can do this  in a couple of sessions. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy you will find them yourself!

2 Take a break for a day or two. Then do a timed test. It doesn't matter if its the same paper. This time you are aiming for speed and accuracy.

3 Finally give lots of praise as encouragement as you push them out of the door!!