Maths Workbooks

[rockyracoon]

My daughter is in year 7, top set maths and I'm a bit concerned she's out of her depth but she's intent on staying where she is. Are there any workbooks that I can buy that can help her practise in her spare time, her target level is 7, if that helps.

Many thanks for any replies.

[Buenchico]

Setting in Year 7? When I was teaching maths we abandoned setting in Years 7 & 8, only introducing it in Year 9.

It might help you if you can see what you daughter is working towards. Old SATs tests can be downloaded from here:
http://emaths.co.uk/index.php/4-students/past-papers/ks3-sat-papers

Also look though the KS3 Maths books listed on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D291678&field-keywords=KS3+Maths&;rh=n%3A291678%2Ck%3AKS3+Maths
(Many of them have reviews, so you wouldn't be 'buying blind').

Better still though, simply take a look at what your local branch of Waterstone's (or even W H Smith) has to offer. Then you'll be able to see what's inside the books. ('Remaindered' bookshops, such as 'The Works' often seem to have relevant books too).

Remind your daughter of the golden rule for Maths lessons: "If you haven't asked a question - or possibly lots of questions - you're either better at maths than your teacher or simply not learning as well as you could do". Loads of academic studies - and my own experience - suggest that girls often fail at maths simply because they don't ask enough questions.

Lastly, remember that there are online resources as well, such as this from the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/

Chris

[Fibonacci]

Some useful maths revision books and workbooks can be found here
http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/home.asp

Heartly concur with Buenchico comments.

[rockyracoon]

Thank you both for your answers, I'll have a read through the links later.

Chris, you've hit the nail on the head, she will not ask for help in maths, any other subject she's not too bad, but maths definitely not.

Her school is one of the only ones I know that have ability levels in Maths at this age, I think there is such a wide gap between the brightest and the not so bright that it must be easier this way. They band for English in year 9 too.

[factor-fiction]

I think Kangaroo maths is an excellent free online resource which allows students to self-assess for each topic at each level.
Have a look here:
http://www.kangaroomaths.com/kenny3.php?page=KassessKS3

[rockyracoon]

Thanks FF, that looks excellent, I'll email her the link.

Once again, thanks, you're all stars.

[sherrardk]

RR, don't mean to point out the obvious but does your daughter realise that the school might move her out of the top step if they think she will benefit from it? I only say, because I am sure you have posted before about how much she frets about things.

[rockyracoon]

Yes Sherr lol, I have said this to her but she just starts getting upset so I thought if I can get her to practise more then she might feel better about it. It seems they don't dwell on a subject too long before starting on the next one and she starts fretting about what she doesn't understand, compound that with the fact that she won't ask the teacher for help! She's her own worst enemy sometimes though, she won't read a question properly, she reads what she thinks should be there, then gets thoroughly pissed off with herself when it gets marked wrong.

I tell ya, talk about not getting two kids the same, my son couldn't give a hoot, middle sets for English and maths but does very well in History and science (what he loves) he feels no stress whatsoever, but Little Miss High Achiever won't cut herself any slack at all. I do 't know which to prefer, really I don't!