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North America
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I do the passport activities with my child?
Anywhere! In the car, out and about, at the supermarket or at home. Most activities can be done through talking with your child.
How often?
Daily for best results.
How long should we do it?
Around 10 minutes will do. Don’t overdo it, as your child may ‘switch off’.
My child is not being moved on at school. Why not?
Children will be tested on each target at regular intervals – approximately every fortnight.
Why don’t you test straight after a practice?
We need to know that the children will remember each target forever!
My child says he was tested and passed, but is still working on this target. Why?
We will test until they have passed the target 3 times. These tests will be at least a fortnight apart from one another. Then the target will be ‘signed off’ at school.
How many targets should I work on at once?
This is your choice. You can work on one target or several from the same passport.
Can I help in school?
Yes! We are always on the lookout for help even if you can’t give up much time. Please contact your class teacher if you’re interested.
What would I be expected to do in school?
You would be asked to work with one or two children for 15 minutes on their numeracy passport activities e.g. once a week after lunch.
Why isn’t my child writing much down during the activities?
Children need to learn these targets mentally. Writing them down may slow their progress. They will remember them better if this has been done through talk and playing games.
What does the test look like?
Like this!
67
3
4
1
9
5
2
0
8
The teacher would put some numbers in the middle column (see above). For example, this one could be used to test the 2x table. Your child would then start at the top and fill in as many answers in the empty column on one side (left hander to the left side and right handers to the right side – so they can see the middle numbers!)
Your child will be timed. If they complete the sheet correctly in 30 seconds or less they will receive the first signing of their passport. They will then get tested approximately 2 weeks later. Once the target has been signed 3 times, it will be ‘signed off’.
How does my child move to the next passport?
Once all their targets have been signed off, they will do a mixed test of all their passport targets.
Why? This will ensure that they have REALLY learnt them by heart!
Easy examples Tricky examples Very tricky example
Double… Double… Double…
13 = 26 17 = 34 57 = 114
24 = 48 28 = 56 68 = 136
30 = 60 35 = 70 75 = 150
41 = 82 49 = 98 89 = 178
You can double by splitting tens and units.
e.g.
Double 36: double 30 460
72
double 6412
This needs to be done in your child’s head!
Ideas to try at home:
Your child starts with a small number (e.g. 1) and keep doubling it in their head (1, 2, 4, 8 …) How far can your child go without a mistake. Now try 3, 6, 12…
Try taking it in turns with your child:
Adult says ‘3’ Child says ‘6’ …
Put out both sets of the 1 to 9 digit cards face down. (You can find these at the back of this book). Turn any two over and make a two digit number. Whoever doubles it first wins that pair of cards. Keep going and count up at the end to see who has won.
More Money
Get some 10p coins and some 1p coins.
Make an amount below £1.00. Can the child use the rest of the coins to show the double of this amount?
Customs Check
Write down 10 numbers (between 10 and 100).
Give your child 30 seconds to double them all.
Encourage your child to write out all the doubles from
10 to 99. Write next to each one whether it was easy, tricky or very tricky.
Double 10 = 20 easy
11 = 22 easy
12 = 24 easy
13 = 26 easy
14 = 28 easy
15 = 30 tricky
16 = 32 tricky…
Talk about any patterns you notice.
Memorise or learn all the easy doubles first before moving onto the tricky doubles.
Easy examples Tricky examples Very tricky example
Half of… Half of… Half of…
26 = 13 34 = 17 99 = 49.5
48 = 24 56 = 28 87 = 43.5
60 = 30 70 = 35 75 = 37.5
82 = 41 98 = 49 63 = 31.5
Ideas to try at home:
Use money:
Give your child some change (silver and copper). Ask them to count it up and then halve it.
Digit cards:
Put out both sets of the 1 to 9 digit cards face down. (You can find these at the back of this book). Turn any two over and make a two digit number. Whoever halves it first wins that pair of cards. Keep going and count up at the end to see who has won.
Beat the calculator
Get the question cards from the follow-me game at the back. Parent has a calculator. Child picks a card. Who can work it out first?
(Tip: Parents might want to give the child an advantage by going slow).
Customs Check
Write down 10 numbers (between 10 and 100).
Give your child 30 seconds to double them all.
Your child writes out all the halves of numbers from 50 to 99. Write next to each one whether they think it was easy, tricky or very tricky.
Halve: 50 = 25 easy
51 = 25.5 very tricky
52 = 26 tricky
53 = 26.5 very tricky
54 = 27 tricky
55 = 27.5 very tricky
56 = 28 tricky…
Talk about any patterns you notice.
Memorise or learn all the easy halves first before moving onto the tricky halves.
Activities to practise both doubling and halving at the same time.
Follow Me
1. Cut out the Follow Me cards at the back of this book and share them amongst as many players as you have (the more the better).
2. Choose someone to start by reading out one of their questions.
3. The person who has the answer shouts it out and reads the question that is with it.
4. Play on until the game goes back to the person who started.
Car Journey Maths
Try questions like this in the car or on the bus…
“I think of a number and halve it, the answer is 45.
Which number did I start with?”
Ideas to try at home:
Quick fire questions
Ask the table questions in any order e.g. 6 x 7,
2 x 7, etc without counting up ( 7, 14, 21 etc)
Chanting counting in sevens
Count on: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, and 70
And back: 70, 63, 56, 49, 42, 35, 28, 21, 14, and 7
What is the number?
For example….
What is the number before 28 in the 7 x table?
What is the number after 56 in the 7x table?
Card tables
Use a pack of cards, turn over a card and multiply 7 by that number.
Ideas to try at home:
Quick fire questions
Ask questions using the words shared by; e.g.
What is 28 shared by 7?
How many groups of 7 in 56?
How many sets of 7 do I get with 63?
Number triads
What is the missing number in this triangle?
Change for other division facts.
Sorting
Sort objects/sweets into sets of 7.
Ideas to try at home:
Quick fire questions
Ask the table questions in any order e.g. 6 x 9,
2 x 9, etc without your child counting up
( 9, 18,27 etc)
Chanting counting in nines
Count on: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, and 90
And back: 90, 81, 72, 63, 54, 45, 36, 27, 18, and 9
What is the number?
For example….
What is the number before 27 in the 9 x table?
What is the number after 54 in the 9x table?
Card tables
Use a pack of cards, turn over a card and multiply 9 by that number.
5 X 9 = 45
Ideas to try at home:
Quick fire questions
Ask questions using the words shared by; e.g.
What is 27 shared by 9?
How many groups of 9 in 45?
How many sets of 9 do I get with 36?
Number triads
What is the missing number in this triangle?
÷
Draw more triangles with a missing number.
Spot the patterns in the nine times table:
(Tns go up as the digits come down)
(digits add up to 9 e.g. 3x9=27. 2+7=9)
North America / DateAchieved / Date Achieved / Date Achieved
Double any 2 digit number
Halve any 2 digit number
Know by heart all multiplication facts for 7, up to 7x12
Know by heart all division facts, for 7, up to 7x12
Know by heart all multiplication facts for 9, up to 9x12
Know by heart all division facts, for 9, up to 9x12