Maths in Y5 - help

[Cranleigh]

DD needs to boost level at school in Maths and I am not sure which are the best materials to boost to at least a 5c by year end. I think may officially be 4b/4a at this stage so may be impossible but I'd like to try. She has good ability in maths but processing speed and lack of practice currently hampering her progress. Everything else is very strong, solid level 5, and we really need to focus on Maths. Lots of time spent on Maths type project work which whilst fun won't add value in terms of the exams.

Trying for a super selective and a couple of selectives later in the year some are independent school exams. Currently in state primary following NC. Needs to boost confidence and belief in Maths. We need a system we can move through methodically and get some major wins in limited time - would S&S be best? Thank you. Help!

Has been working with a tutor once a week off and on but approach is more about consolidation than boosting in terms of exam success. The boosting happens later.

[kenyancowgirl]

Schofield and Simms Mental Arithmetic would probably help - the books go up in steady stages and each page has Section A (easy) Section B (slightly harder) and Section C (more wordy/data interpretation) questions which can be used as timed pages or individually times sections to increase speed. Also work daily on improving speed and accurate recall of times tables - the root of all maths, to me!

[Cranleigh]

Thanks, where to start? Which book covers which sub level? I saw someone made reference to a post that outlined this but can't find it.

So which book would cover: 3c, 3b, 3a, 4c, 4b, 4a, 5c, 5b, 5a, 6c

Which book covers 4a/5c/5b ?


Thanks.

[Daogroupie]

Can you not ask your tutor to focus on the format of the exams you want to take? You are paying them! If they won't can't you find one who will? A good tutor should be working through the past papers of the schools you are interested in and identifying weak areas and then doing separate focused sessions on those topics. I have seen students make tremendous progress after a few weeks of this type of approach. At home I would recommend daily times tables and mental maths and the Robson books from this forum next day delivery. Also do past papers and then make papers of the ones she gets wrong. DG

[kenyancowgirl]

I'm guessing (as I don't know which area you are) that for the super selectives you will need to be around Book 5/6 by the time you take the exams - certainly that is where you would be safer for the super selectives in our area. However, you need to use a specialised approach for independent school exams, focussing on their specific format to get the highest marks.

For grammar school entry, roughly speaking I think Book 4 is equivalent to Level 4 SATs - in our school, generally Y6 dc are on Book 4 (with brighter kids on book 5 or 6). If your dd is a solid Level 4 then you could start on book 4 (or for more confidence book 3) - and see how easily your dd works through it - this will give her confidence and get her used to the style - the tests don't take too long to get through but it is important to go over any errors - if she is in a state school, do not assume that all the work has been covered.

See I have crossed post with DG.

[parent2013]

A good tutor should be working through the past papers of the schools you are interested in and identifying weak areas and then doing separate focused sessions on those topics.

Spot on Dao. That's the key for super-selectives. I don't think S&S is geared for that.

Cranleigh - which schools are you targeting?

[mystery]

I think it is worth deciding whether you are best focussing on improving her nc level reported at the end of year 5 or on the syllabus requirements of the particular exams she will be sitting.

If the former, there may not be much time depending on how your school does it. Ours gives children a year 5 qca optional year 5 paper or old ks2 paper shortly after half term.

You could find some of these on the web and work on the content you can see from the papers that she has not covered or needs more practice with or use books which specifically cover level 5 content - browse the shelves in a good bookshop e.g. Cgp maths books which target level 5 content and practice. I think this would hit the spot more easily than the s and s mental arithmetic series.