I guess I’ve always been a bit of a math nerd.

I have very specific memories from a young age of helping my dollies (and some sort of she-alien) solve mathematical problems. My “class” often came up short of the correct answer, but together we figured it out, well, to my satisfaction anyway. I have three (much) older siblings and I also remember being very disheartened (at age 8) that I couldn’t understand my sister’s Sixth Form (Year 12) algebra. A passion (built out of sibling competitiveness) was born!

Anyhoo, I got it eventually (the algebra) and I went on to complete a PhD in psychology (specifically cognitive neuroscience - ‘brain stuff’) where I was engaged in Master’s level statistics. I LOVE statistics. It’s so safe. Full of facts. No fluffy stuff. It’s either significant, or it’s not. Full stop and get on with it. And graphs, ahhh graphs. Beautiful, simplistic representations of data. All that information captured in one glance of the eye. I could look at graphs all day. In fact, I tried to get a job in Police Intelligence once where that was the job. Didn’t happen, but teaching sure did, oodles of it, as it continues to do so today.

At some point along the way I became a parent, and yes, my world was rocked, hard. For one, I couldn’t think straight anymore(!), but, at the same time, the most fabulous little beings started to draw my attention toward their needs and I was off on the pursuit of providing the greatest good for them that I could. Apart from a few trips to the hospital, a bit of love here and there, and meeting some basic needs, this centred mostly on education (and answering those ENDLESS questions. Thank you, Google).

I guess I’ve always been a bit of a math nerd.

I have very specific memories from a young age of helping my dollies (and some sort of she-alien) solve mathematical problems. My “class” often came up short of the correct answer, but together we figured it out, well, to my satisfaction anyway. I have three (much) older siblings and I also remember being very disheartened (at age 8) that I couldn’t understand my sister’s Sixth Form (Year 12) algebra. A passion (built out of sibling competitiveness) was born!

Anyhoo, I got it eventually (the algebra) and I went on to complete a PhD in psychology (specifically cognitive neuroscience - ‘brain stuff’) where I was engaged in Master’s level statistics. I LOVE statistics. It’s so safe. Full of facts. No fluffy stuff. It’s either significant, or it’s not. Full stop and get on with it. And graphs, ahhh graphs. Beautiful, simplistic representations of data. All that information captured in one glance of the eye. I could look at graphs all day. In fact, I tried to get a job in Police Intelligence once where that was the job. Didn’t happen, but teaching sure did, oodles of it, as it continues to do so today.

At some point along the way I became a parent, and yes, my world was rocked, hard. For one, I couldn’t think straight anymore(!), but, at the same time, the most fabulous little beings started to draw my attention toward their needs and I was off on the pursuit of providing the greatest good for them that I could. Apart from a few trips to the hospital, a bit of love here and there, and meeting some basic needs, this centred mostly on education (and answering those ENDLESS questions. Thank you, Google).

I guess I’ve always been a bit of a math nerd.

I have very specific memories from a young age of helping my dollies (and some sort of she-alien) solve mathematical problems. My “class” often came up short of the correct answer, but together we figured it out, well, to my satisfaction anyway. I have three (much) older siblings and I also remember being very disheartened (at age 8) that I couldn’t understand my sister’s Sixth Form (Year 12) algebra. A passion (built out of sibling competitiveness) was born!

Anyhoo, I got it eventually (the algebra) and I went on to complete a PhD in psychology (specifically cognitive neuroscience - ‘brain stuff’) where I was engaged in Master’s level statistics. I LOVE statistics. It’s so safe. Full of facts. No fluffy stuff. It’s either significant, or it’s not. Full stop and get on with it. And graphs, ahhh graphs. Beautiful, simplistic representations of data. All that information captured in one glance of the eye. I could look at graphs all day. In fact, I tried to get a job in Police Intelligence once where that was the job. Didn’t happen, but teaching sure did, oodles of it, as it continues to do so today.

At some point along the way I became a parent, and yes, my world was rocked, hard. For one, I couldn’t think straight anymore(!), but, at the same time, the most fabulous little beings started to draw my attention toward their needs and I was off on the pursuit of providing the greatest good for them that I could. Apart from a few trips to the hospital, a bit of love here and there, and meeting some basic needs, this centred mostly on education (and answering those ENDLESS questions. Thank you, Google).

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Helping parents help their children with maths

Which book is best for my 10 year old?

Stage 5/6

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Book 15

Ages 8-10

Book 15 covers mental and written strategies for addition and subtraction, reading and valuing large numbers, and 6x, 7x and 8x tables.

For students who are starting to form a foundation of mental addition/ subtraction and place value (Cf Books 11-14).

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Book 16

Ages 8-10

Book 16 covers 11x and 12x tables and concepts of multiplication, fractions of shapes and numbers, proper and improper fractions and introduces decimals.

For students with a developing concept of multiplication and division and fractions.

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Book 17

Ages 8-10

Book 17 covers addition, subtraction and ordering of decimals up to 2 decimal places, using a calculator memory and introduces the order of operations.

For students who are developing a sound knowledge base of mathematical concepts.

Click here to find the right book for your child

Stage 6

Book 18

Ages 9-11

Book 18 covers place value and sequencing and ordering large numbers, and multiplication of 2- and 3-digit numbers using a written method.

For students who have sound mental strategies for numbers up to 3 digits.

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Book 19

Ages 9-11

Book 19 covers square numbers, division and multiplication, and fractions and ratios.

For students who have a sound understanding of multiplication/division and fractional concepts.

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Book 20

Ages 9-11

Book 20 covers the relationship between decimals, fractions and percentages up to 3 decimal places, the use of calculators, order of operations and identification of number patterns.

For students who are comfortable working with decimals (Cf Book 19).