Numbershark 5

Improve numeracy skills and understanding by combining motivation and enjoyment with structured learning

Numbershark addresses many of the difficulties which lead students to dislike maths, including poor

• short term memory
• attention span
• sequencing skills
• sense of number

The software features over 50 totally different games covering addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in ways which add meaning and understanding to these operations.

To help those with dyslexia and dyscalculia many of the games give a visual idea of what is happening when you add, subtract, multiply or divide. Numbers are shown as objects, digits, rods, or on an abacus, a number line, a number pad, a 100 square – to help basic understanding. Fractions and decimals are also shown visually.

Most games have no time limit (though a clock is running) so students have space to work out their number strategy and to build confidence. Variable speeds and other options help to match individual needs.

• Operations + – x ÷
  
• Numbers to 7 digits
  
• Negative numbers
  
• Common percentages
  
• Fractions and Decimals
  
• Worded problems
  
• Maths Vocabulary

For the Students

Numbershark is mostly used by students aged between 6 and 14. Some of the games are more suitable for younger children but many games are appropriate for any age. Older students, with reasonable number skills use Numbershark to improve their mental maths – sometimes before exams. Variable speeds and other options meet all levels of skill.

The variety of games, concepts and topics make Numbershark suitable for use in primary school and also secondary school where students have gaps in understanding.

For the Teacher

Helping and managing your students with numeracy difficulties has never been easier. Numbershark 5 enables the teachers to:

• Set specific numeracy work for students
  Once students are added to the system, it is possible to choose the topics and games that they should use. This can also be done for groups of students.
• Monitor student progress and performance
  Records are kept once students have been added to the system. Progress can be measured accurately. Records can be printed out.
• Hard copy print-outs available
  Worksheets can be printed out for most topics, in different formats and layouts.

Numbershark helps anyone improve their understanding and use of numbers. The software teaches and reinforces numeracy using a wide variety of carefully designed games. There are over 600 topics to choose from.

Features

• The topics address each of the number operations.
• + – x ÷ plus fractions, decimals and simple percentages, in very gradual steps. A section of graded word problems is included.
• The topics are quick to access and clear examples are given on screen. Numbershark gives a fresh set of ‘sums’ each time a topic is selected.
• Recommended games are given for every topic.
• There is a fully graded course supporting the 2014 National Curriculum England, for numeracy in early and mid primary.
• The wide variety of games and options give many ways to practise the same work and to promote both the understanding and the memorising of number facts, whilst maintaining interest.
• The games include practice in different aspects of place value, ordering, grouping, commutativity, exchange and, links between operations.
• Rods, number line, scale, digits, words, abacus, number pad and 100 square show numbers in many of their different formats.
• Mental Maths and strategies are well addressed at all levels.
• Over 2000 worded problems help put numbers into context.
• Worksheets can be printed in a wide variety of formats.
• Personal learning can be supported by setting up individual programs of work.
• Records of student activities are kept. Progress can easily be tracked.
• Variable speeds and other options in the games meet all grades of skill.
• The games are excellent for use on an interactive whiteboard and children enjoy playing the games on the big screen. An on-screen keypad is provided with the program.
• Help screens can be shown and spoken alongside games as students play them.
• Numbershark has training videos, a printed manual and a full pdf manual, with advice on use of the program. Pop-up teaching notes are also available.

USB Version

• The USB product offers a versatile single user licence which allows the program to be accessed on any computer with an open USB port.
• There is no need to install the program onto the computer so by simply plugging the USB into the port users can access Numbershark wherever they need to.
• The unique advantage of the USB is that all user data is stored back on the USB itself. Student records created are saved on the USB allowing full mobility between different computers.

These features make the USB option ideal for situations where either the students or teachers require the flexibility to use the programs on different computers and/or at different locations such as home, school or study centres. It enables teachers to ‘manage’ the programs from home by allowing them to set work, review student records and create word lists. The USB stick can then be taken back into the school to use on a whiteboard computer, for example, or for setting work for a child who is off school.