Number bonds... counting in ‘hops’... using grids and number lines... this is the norm for our kids, but it means very little to us. That's because maths lessons today take on a rather different form to those from our own school days. Forget tedious hours of solving endless sums; The Parents' Guide to Year 2 Maths, packed with great maths games and activities, will guide you through everything you need to know for maths in Year 2 and help your child towards KS1 SATs success.
Your complete Year 2 maths ‘toolkit’
There’s no getting away from the fact that maths is an essential skill.
Your child will need to apply it to so many aspects of their daily life – from telling the time, to working out how much change they should get in the shops.
That's why getting a solid grip on maths early on is so important. It will make all the difference to your child's future. Supporting our kids at home is a key part of their learning journey, and it will be of huge benefit to you, your child and their teacher if you can spend a bit of time helping them to improve their skills. (And you can boost yours, too.)
This is precisely the reason that The Parents’ Guide to Year 2 Maths was written, with mums and dads like you firmly in mind. It’s friendly, accessible, 100% jargon-free, and addresses three big concerns about your son or daughter’s maths studies:
- What is my child learning this year?
- What strategies will their teacher use?
- How can I support my child at home?
Year 2 is a great year for your child to make progress; they’ve settled into school life, and are starting to develop as a learner in their own right.
By following the same framework used by your child’s teacher (details of which are included in the book), you will be able to work closely with them on developing all of their key numeracy skills, including:
- Counting
- Number facts
- Calculation
- Understanding shape
- Measures
- Handling data
Each skill has its own dedicated chapter, making it easy to look up a particular method when your child mentions one to you, or finding new ways to cement their learning in a specific area. And one of the great things about this book is that it can be used in almost any way you like. It really comes down to what suits you and your child most.
Work through it from start to finish; dip in and out of the areas where you know your child needs that little bit of extra help, or simply use it to recap on what they did in class that day.
You can also use it as a starting point for your child to create their own methods of practising and revising, showing that they’ve really grasped what they’ve been taught – a sure-fire way to get them beaming with pride! Plus, included for you is a handy prompt card, so you’ll even know what questions to ask your child as you go along to make sure they’ve understood everything.
Together with your child, you can create a maths experience at home that is fulfilling for both of you, and has plenty of positive outcomes.
Now comes the part you and your child will love most... the games and activities.
It’s no secret that children learn best when they're engaged and enjoying themselves. And when they're not at school, your child wants nothing more than to spend time with you, doing something exciting. The Parents’ Guide to Year 2 Maths gives you the resources to do both of these things – have fun AND learn – in a hands-on way.
The author, Matt Revill, has come up with literally masses of ideas (over 40, in fact) for innovative games and activities that will enhance your child's key numeracy skills. And each one can be easily adapted to match your child’s ability. From quick suggestions that can be used anytime, anywhere, to competitive board games and puzzles, they will bring out your child's knowledge and encourage them to apply it to a range of different situations - just like we would in everyday life.
You can look forward to hours of laughter and pleasure with your child by playing games such as these, to name but a few:
- Roll a number
- Target number blast off
- Spot it
- Sweetie count up
- Find the difference
- Number spinner winner
- Shape Sudoku
All the resources needed for the games (blank boards, grids, cards etc.) are either found in the book itself, or make use of everyday items around the house.
By taking the time to work through these brilliant activities with your child, you’ll see their skills really taking shape. And what an advantage that'll be for the learning to come in Year 3, throughout their time in junior school, and beyond.
Let the games begin! Order your copy today to discover lots of fun, maths-boosting ideas.
About the author
Matt Revill is Deputy Headteacher of Fox Hill Primary School in Sheffield. Matt has a passion for developing fun and exciting ways to help children learn, and he has written a book and several articles about thinking skills. Prior to teaching, Matt worked ridiculously long hours in a video store and can tell you almost anything about any film. He has a three-year-old son and fills his time with planning, marking, paperwork and nappies.
"I found the book really enlightening. Not only did it answer all my questions about what my child is learning and how I can support his learning at home, but it provided loads of stimulus for having fun with numbers. The games are brilliant; my son adored playing them, and I particularly enjoyed being able to help him learn while genuinely having fun together. It’s clearly and concisely written, but is engaging, too. We laughed a lot while using the book, and that’s invaluable. So often he gets bored if he’s aware that we’re ‘learning’ and I get frustrated because I’m uncertain about how much he ought to know or how best to help him. Tackling school work all too easily descends into upset, but the book changed all that. My son has asked to use the book every day and I’ve been thrilled at how using the book together has captured his imagination and got him interested in maths. Now, if only I could get my hands on one for every subject he studies..."
- Heidi Scrimgeour
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"I wish I had something like this when my oldest child was starting Year 2! The book is a very detailed and comprehensive guide for parents on what our children are taught in Year 2, and more importantly, how this is done. I particularly liked the way it had practical activities which parents could try at home, which supported techniques used in class, as it’s always a bit of a worry that we may be confusing our children by explaining things differently to how they are being taught at school.
"It’s really useful for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of what to expect in Year 2, and find out ways they can help their child at home."
- Vicky Philippou
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"A great book for parents. The maths curriculum explained in a clear and concise way. A book full of good ideas and excellent resources, which can be adapted for all ages and abilities."
- Naomi Simon, Deputy Head and KS2 expert
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"The book gives clear explanations of the ‘new’ ways of dealing with maths problems and lots of fun games to try, together with useful resources such as number squares, and lines, even snakes and ladders and Sudoku. I only wish it had been available a few years ago when my children were at this stage."
- Jane Freeman
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"I liked the way the book goes through everything they will cover in Year 2, so you can see at a glance how everything fits in. The resources are probably the most attractive aspect of the book ... It is certainly a book I would buy and one I would refer to regularly."
- Jackie Cosh
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"Maths teaching has changed considerably since most of today’s parents were at primary school. This guide helps you get to grips with modern methods - from number lines to addition squares – so you can support your child’s numeracy learning at home (and have a clue what the teacher is on about when they say their target for this term is to 'partition two digit numbers').
"It includes details of the objectives Year 2 children are assessed against, and stacks of activities so you can help them develop these skills. These activities take a playful, practical approach – snakes and ladders, using piles of sweets in calculations – so they’re more likely to be met with enthusiasm by your child."
- Liat Hughes Joshi, parenting journalist and author of Raising Children: The Primary Years