Your questions about our mathematics CD

Q1. What does the age information on the lefthand menu and elsewhere mean?

A1. This shows where a school would typically introduce a topic, based on the national curriculum. The CD does not show age information however, so you do not need to worry that a child will feel upset by being given activities labelled below their age range.

Q2. What type of computer do I need to use this maths CD.

A2. The CD is suitable for PCs running operating systems such as Windows Vista, XP, ME, 98, 2000 etc. In short, if you are using the computer to browse this website, you should be able to use our CD successfully.

Q3. What is the best way to use this maths CD with my child?

A3. When children use our software in schools, a teacher first goes through the activity a couple of times to show them how it works, then works with them for a few more times, and then encourages them to try some on their own. When you are at home you need to take the place of that teacher - that is, you need to help, explain and encourage.

Q4. Are these games that my child will play happily with for hours on end?

A4. Most children have a clear idea of the difference between work and play - and the content of these CDs is work! That said, most children are also keen to improve their abilities, and these CDs provide a fun way to learn a new topic or to get practice at a topic they already know. Think about how you would react yourself to learning a new skill at home when there is something you want to watch on TV. Children need to be motivated and in particular encouraged.

Q5. Will this CD genuinely improve my child's maths ability?

A5. We believe that it will, providing that you work with your child in the ways explained above. Certainly we have many parents who find our CD very useful, and there are many teachers who tell us that they get excellent reactions from children when working with our software, and that includes home tutors and teachers working with teenagers and even adult learners.

Q6. Do I need to be good at maths myself to use this CD with my child?

A6. Absolutely not. The activities are explained very clearly, and usually after a question has been answered there is an on-screen explanation of how the maths worked. The best thing is to not be afraid of having a go - and show your child that they need not be afraid either.

Q7. Do I need to be particularly computer literate to make this CD work?

A7. No. We supply very clear instructions on how to use our CD. If you want, you can also copy the CD onto your home computer and run it from their hard drive.

Q8. I am a home tutor. Can I use these mathematics CDs with my pupils?

A8. Yes. many home tutors do. What you mustn't do is to copy the contents of the CD to their computers. You can however buy discounted CDs from us that you can resell to your pupils. Please contact us at info@sums.co.uk if you want to know more about our 'home edition reseller' scheme. Essentially it allows you to buy further copies of CDs you have already purchased, but at a discounted rate.

Q9. I am a teacher. Can I use these mathematics CDs with my pupils?

A9. No. These CDs are licenced only for Home Use. See our main website www.sums.co.uk for a version licenced for school use.

Q10. I am a supply teacher/student teacher. Can I use these mathematics CDs with my pupils?

A10. Yes. We have many supply teachers who carry our CD with them from school to school to provide the basis of maths lessons planned at short notice. Student teachers are also using our CDs, particularly for those times when they are being observed by their tutors.

Q11. How do your activities relate to school years?

A11. Our Level 1 and2 activities are most commonly used in Year 1 and 2 of Primary Schools. These two years together are called by English schools 'Key Stage 1' and the classes are 'Infant classes'.

Our Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 activities are most commonly used in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Primary schools. These four years together are called by English schools 'Key Stage 2' and the classes are sometimes called Junior classes.

In practice, all teachers have pupils whose ability lies above and below the average ability of the year they are in, so they use a wide range of the activities, no matter which year group they teach.

Q12. Is maths completely different to when I was at school?

A12. If you went to school many years ago then you may not recognise some of the maths that is taught nowadays. To a certain extent, maths is subject to 'fashion'. Also approaches vary across the country depending on the beliefs of the local educational authorities. The content on our CD is generally mainstream, however, and is certainly always good practice. The following are examples of where you may find local variation.

Example 1. Using an 'angle measurer' to measure angles, rather than a protractor as shown in our Shape and Space activity Protractor Pro. Some schools use these devices in preference to protractors (but most pupils will move on to protractors later in their school life).

Example 2. Using alternatives to long division or multiplication. There are many methods that are good at introducing pupils to multiplication and division, and we cover several of them on the CD. Some schools are not keen on some of the 'old fashioned' pencil and paper methods covered in Level 6. The traditional methods are still valid however (and we hear of many schools readopting them).

Q13. Is the number 13 unlucky?

A13. No.

Q14. My child is dyslexic. Is this CD suitable for them?

A14. We hear many reports of children with all sorts of learning difficulty who find our software useful. Sometimes it is the bright graphics that are helpful. Sometimes it is the 'non-judgemental' feedback that gives a child new confidence. What we do recommend, however, is that you work with your child, encourage them, and read out any words that they might have difficulty understanding at first glance. Most children soon understand the pattern of how an exercise works and manage to carry on under their own steam.

Q15. Are the number of questions on an activity limited?

A15. The majority of our activities generate their questions randomly so that there are a very large number of different questions. Where by the nature of the activity there are a limited number of questions, they generally appear in random order. In short, your child should always find plenty of new and challenging questions to attempt.

Q16. What are the EASY and HARDER options I see on each activity?

A16. Teachers often introduce a topic using the EASY option, and then allow quicker learners to proceed to more challenging work using the HARDER option. Sometimes the HARDER version of the activity presents a completely new challenge however, so be sure to try it yourself before asking your child to attempt it.

Q17. What are the Performance Reports for?

A17. Teachers use this when they are assessing the progress of their pupils. In fact, children themselves like proof that their performance is getting better. Why not keep a record yourself (the reports can be printed out) and set challenges such as "See if you can complete 20 questions this time, and score more than 80% of your attempts as correct".

Q18. When I try activities on this site the 'drag and drop' questions sometimes don't work properly?

A18. This happens for some particular combinations of computer, operating system, and version of flash on your PC. If you buy the CDs they should work without problem, hoewever, as they are totally self-contained.

Q19. None of the activities on this site work at all?

A19. You probably do not have an up-to-date flash 'plugin' installed to your browser (though over 98% of computer users do). Click on the following link to get Flash. DOWNLOAD FLASH PLAYER

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