Number journey for ages 8-9 - Andrew Brodie

An exciting new series of Maths titles from Andrew Brodie focusing onthe teaching of number and calculation skills. Primary children are nowtaught number and calculation skills using a range of differentmethods. This range and variety is most noticeable at Key Stage 2 butthe foundations are laid in Key Stage 1.

The most obvious difficulties emerge with how to teach multiplication.Most schools are now using a grid method, which should lead through toa vertical format, but many teachers are not clear as to when to makethe switch or how to do it.

What Number Journey provides is a clear, logical progression with lotsof practice at each step along the way. It covers the four rules:addition, subtraction and multiplication and specify particular methodsfor each one. Most of the materials that are currently on the marketare full maths programmes addressing all aspects of maths, including'using and applying mathematics', or are targeting narrow areas such asmental maths. Number Journey would address strands 2, 3 and 4 of thenew Mathematics framework: 'counting and understanding number','knowing and using number facts' and 'calculating'. An extremely usefulfeature of the series is the letters to parents helping schools toexplain to parents the approach being used.