We have just launched Numbots and Times Tables Rock Stars at Myddle!
All children – from Reception to Year 5 have now been given a login and can start playing straight away. We have launched a few challenges for the Summer Holidays and will announce the winners when we return to School in September.
The children are very excited about trying this out! More information about both programmes can be found below:
Numbots
I’m delighted to inform you about a new service we’re using to support your child’s addition and subtraction skills, called NumBots.
Big Difference
NumBots is an online game and playing little and often will significantly improve your child’s recall and understanding of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts. These are critical foundations in maths so we are excited by the impact NumBots will have.
Logging In
The children have been shown how to login and have brought home a letter with all required details. They might need some help navigating to the website and entering the details but once they’re in, they just need some quiet space to get on with the games.
Please ask your child’s teacher if they are struggling to login.
Important: please don’t allow siblings, friends or family to answer for them but do support your child if they’re stuck.
Little and often
In order to get the best out of NumBots children should regularly play for short bursts so we would ask you to give them 3 minutes, four five times a week.
Game Types
- Story Mode – the emphasis is on learning the ideas and concepts behind addition and subtraction so it features more diagrams, shapes and question styles.
- Challenge Mode – the emphasis is more on speed of recall of key facts, like number bonds to 10, doubling small numbers or adding & taking away in your head.
Times Tables Rock Stars
We recommend a “little and often” approach; 3 minutes practice a day, 4 or 5 times a week is a good target.
| What are the different Game Modes? |
| Single Player |
Garage
10 coins per correct answer |
Players answer the tables selected by their teacher or by TTRS’ Auto trainer.
Important: if you feel your child is overwhelmed by the number of tables they’re practising, please speak to their teacher. We suggest to teachers to select one table per week with small combinations every third or fourth week.
If your child is on Auto, they will practise the one table chosen for them* in small chunks of 4 questions at a time. Our algorithm selects the table after a Gig game. |
Gig
10 coins per correct answer |
If your child is on Auto training they will periodically play Gig games to assess which table is best for them to practise in the Garage.
Important: players must give each Gig performance their full concentration to demonstrate their tables skills. They may be returned to an earlier table if not. |
Jamming
4 or 8 coins/correct answer |
The only game mode without a timer, your child choses the table and the operation (× or ÷ or both) they want to practise. Answer 10, 20 or 30 questions. |
Studio
1 coin per correct answer |
Here your child earns their Rock Status, which is based on their Studio Speed. The faster they are the better their status. Studio Speed is the average of their most recent 10 Studio games. Suitable for confident players. |
Soundcheck
5 coins per correct answer |
Soundcheck games ask 25 multiplication questions (up to 12×12), allowing
6 seconds for each question. Suitable for confident players. |
| Multi Player |
Festival
1 coin per correct answer |
Children compete against others from around the world, with their identities protected behind their rock names. Suitable for confident players. |
Arena
1 coin per correct answer |
Children race against other members of their class who are logged in and choose the same arena name at the same time. Like Garage, Arena games ask questions that are either set by the teacher or by TTRS’ Auto trainer. |
Rock Slam
1 coin per correct answer |
Players challenge their classmates or teachers to answer as many questions as they can in 60 seconds, setting a score for the challengee to beat. Pupils don’t need to be online at the same time. |
| Tournaments |
Battle of the Bands – groups of children within the same school (usually classes, year groups or teams) compete to have the highest average score per player.
Important: Each correct answer (in any game mode) earns 1 point towards the team’s total in addition to the coins earned. For example, in Garage games each correct answer is worth 1 point for the team and 10 coins for the player. |
| Top of the Rocks – think of this as a Battle of the Bands between schools. The winning class or school is the one with the most correct answers per person. Players’ identities are always protected behind their “Rock Names.” |
Please let your child’s teacher know if you have any questions or comments.
