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I bought your Number Gym CD about three years ago and, having trialled the new software, was very impressed with the new additions. I have nothing but the highest praise for it as a resource. It's great and I do regularly recommend it to colleagues!! I would now very much like to purchase all four products... After a successful trial in Year 6 to boost mental skills we're currently implementing a tracking system using BondBuilder and TableTrainer in the rest of the school. We're hoping to have a whole school drive to embed mental skills at an earlier age. During the Year 6 trial I had several parents who expressed an interest in the software. I personally know how effective it has been with our Year 6 at creating a 'want' to get better - to improve their times. We even get Y6 going in the ITroom at playtimes to work in it. Thanks again for a great product. [some weeks later] I found the software very useful and intend to use it again in future. This is a really great resource, especially for trainees like myself who are finding their feet. The best maths software, in the hands of good teachers, is capable of overturning all the old "I hate maths" prejudices. It does this not just with attractive, animated presentation, but by showing some killer features. It is extremely good at adding value for teachers using the IWB (Interactive White Board) to develop mathematical concepts.
I used the Number Gym Plus Enlargement today with my Year 9 revision - a few lightbulb moments !!! The improvements with the ability to switch the guide lines on and off - and the ability to change the centre of enlargement and show how the shape changes position but not size - were really good. The boys liked the clear layout too. Good feedback when I used the software to demonstrate a reflection to a weak Yr 7 class - the fact that the image could be seen flipping across the mirror line was ace - lots of lightbulb moments after they'd struggled with the concept of counting - image and object distance to and from the mirror. So - thanks for that !! [Using The Number Gym] I used the 'Percentages activity' as a revision aid with Year 6 and 'Percentages of' with Year 7 - both very successfully. Year 6 loved having the' Zone' activity as a team game - just wondered if you could develop more 'game' type responses so I could split the class into 2 or 3 groups and play them off against each other? Wish you could have seen the tension rise as one group realised they couldn't get maximum points and were therefore going to lose the whole game - appeals to the competitive spirit of my boys!! Couldn't get them to stop playing and go out to break ! Bond Builder does ‘just what it says on the tin’- it gradually builds up a student’s skills from very basic number understanding to useful practice for the more competent.
Tables trainer gives essential tables practice, building skills to a high standard enabling it to be used by the weakest and strongest students. Our able students are delighted when they get to be Whizz Kids, Clever Cloggs or Genius. At this level they certainly need to understand what they are doing. Yes please I would very much like to receive a new copy of The Number Gym 2.5 as I have found the latest version absolutely invaluable for my planning and teaching. What a fantastic resource. Well what a fabulous site! Just perfect for numeracy starter activities as well as whole-class teaching. I use the games mainly from the interactive white board. I am an ICT consultant so have introduced your site to lots of the schools that I work in. Keep it up, it's brilliant. I am a Numeracy Consultant at Peterborough LEA and have just spent the last 45 mins playing with some of your software. It's really good and would be great for some of our schools, many of whom have just got Interactive Whiteboards through government funding. I use most of your games with my class of Key stage 3/4 SLD [severe learning difficulties] students. They love the competition with the timer and the colours as well as the sound effects (I don't!). I think your site is great. I work at a primary school and I find myself often visiting it as it is child friendly which allows the children to be independent learners. Well done!!! | ||||