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 8 year old?

Stage 4/5

Stage 5

Book 8

Ages 7-8

Book 8 covers number facts to 10, working with tens, introduces money and multiplication.

For children who are ready to start manipulating small numbers and are starting to understand the basics of the place value system (Cf Books 5, 6, & 7).

Book 9

Ages 7-8

Book 9 covers 2x, 5x and 10x tables, number facts to 20, subtracting 9 and estimating.

For children who have mastered skip counting (Cf Books 7 & 8) and are ready to advance basic number skills and facts.

Book 10

Ages 7-8

Book 10 covers simple fractions, addition and subtraction of single-digit numbers and using the calculator.

For children who have encountered fractions before (Cf Book 5) and are ready to learn basic mental strategies for addition and subtraction.

Stage 5

Click here to find the right book for your child

Book 11

Ages 7-9

Book 11 covers addition and subtraction of 2-digit numbers and concepts involving money.

For children who have started to work with addition and subtraction using single-digits (Cf Book 10) and have been introduced to money (Cf Book 8).

Book 12

Ages 7-9

Book 12 covers 3x, 4x, and 9x tables, and early division concepts.

For children who have conquered their 2x, 5x and 10x tables and are ready to move on to the relationship between multiplication and division (Cf Book 9).

Book 13

Ages 7-9

Book 13 covers reading, writing and rounding 3-digit numbers, and adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers using mental strategies.

For children who have mastered mental addition and subtraction with 2-digit numbers (Cf Book 11).

Book 14

Ages 7-9

Book 14 covers fractions, calculator skills and using operations (+, -, x & ÷) to solve problems.

For children who understand basic fractions (Cf Book 10) and are ready to move on to more difficult skills like ordering and finding fractions of whole numbers.