What is Target Practice?

Target Practice is a series of Maths workbooks with connected videos aimed towards 9 to 11-year-olds. 

The goal of Target Practice is to provide detailed insight into a range of mental and written calculation skills, not a general overview. The ten books also deal with decimal place value and word problems.

As a former teacher and now full-time tutor, I am acutely aware that brief explanations of topics, accompanied by 'busy work', does not lead to long-term understanding or appreciation of subjects. 

Speed of learning will only increase when a child first takes their time to focus on one small area of Maths. As they carefully build upon these foundations, they will connect the dots and eventually progress at a rate not first imagined likely. 

What work will my child do?

Each Target Practice book contains ten 'mini-targets'. These are challenges with a time limit and a target score. Should they fail to reach the target score on their first effort, there will be at least three similar challenges at the back of the book in the Target Extra section.

Even if your child does reach the target score on their first effort, it is encouraged that they try the Target Extra challenges at a later date, in order to consolidate their learning. 

However, this written work is not the primary objective of Target Practice. The expectation is that your child takes time to read the explanation pages carefully and watches the related video content. 

What work is expected of me as a parent?

Be present while your child is working through Target Practice. Although it is ideal that your child reads the explanation pages as well as watch the videos, this is not always possible for a variety of reasons connected to each family’s unique circumstances. At the very least, however, make sure that they have watched and understood the teaching videos before trying the timed challenges.

Make sure that there are no distractions while your child is watching the video content. If necessary, watch the videos a second time (perhaps a day or two later). Re-watching the videos at a later time will give them a better chance of reaching the target score on the first effort.

Your child needs time to let the concepts sink in before testing themselves. Rushing through the work only invites failure, which leads to a loss in confidence - all of which is entirely unfair on your child. As adults, we take time to let new ideas sink in before attempting new challenges. We research. We read. We watch. Children should be afforded the same privilege. 

Your job therefore is to watch over them as best as possible, even from a distance, and not allow them to rush straight into the work. Many children are too eager to test themselves immediately which, although commendable, often comes from misplaced confidence. 

Target Practice can build your child's self-esteem. But you have to make sure that this is done slowly and sensibly.

How do I access the videos?

Each workbook contains clickable links (within the PDFs) and QR codes (within the print versions) to ten videos - one for each mini-target. All 100 videos have been stored on my private YouTube channel and can only be accessed via the books, except for one video from each book, which can be viewed here. 

Why are these books targeted at 9 to 11-year-olds?

The Maths work within Target Practice starts at a level that is typically introduced when a child is in P5 (NI), 3rd Class (ROI), Year 4 (UK) or 3rd Grade (US). As such, it is easier to just say 9 to 11-year-olds! 

It is certainly possible that children aged 8 could try Target Practice, but only if they already excel at Maths. Indeed, these books should deepen their enjoyment of the subject. 

Each book focuses on one specific calculation theme in a way that is not typical of a national curriculum. Time does not allow schools to stay focused on one small theme and develop deeper understanding and skills. Target Practice, however, allows your child to see the 'next step' early. If a 9-year-old understands place value in whole numbers, there is nothing to stop them from getting an early look at decimal place value, which in turn means that there is nothing to stop them from carrying out mental multiplications of large numbers and decimal numbers. 

IF I buy the pdf versions, Should I print them?

If you have an endless supply of colour cartridges, feel free. Otherwise... NO!

Target Practice has been designed to be colourful. The downside to this is that it is very costly to print. As the author, I have learned that the hard way (although thankfully have now come across a printer that goes easy on ink!).

If you have access to a printer then I recommend you only print out the work pages (and make sure to use the black and white settings!). 

If you do not have access to a printer then have pencil and paper ready for your child. They can write the answers while reading the questions from the screen. In order to be fair, feel free to extend the time limit of the challenge. 

Who are you and why should I buy books from you?

I am a full-time tutor of primary school children of all ages. I specialise in Maths and Literacy teaching. 

A high percentage of my students are sent to me prior to the Transfer Tests in Northern Ireland. Three years ago I conducted a summer school for these students, which led me to write the draft versions of Target Practice (over 25 short workbooks dealing with a wide range of Maths and Literacy topics). 

I was a full-time teacher for nine years, the last four of which were with a class of 9-10 year olds. 

In 2018 I started my own part-time tuition business, Catapult. Within nine months I had enough students to go full-time. I am now fully booked out as a tutor through to the end of 2025. 

My name is Trevor, by the way. I've been married to Heather for 17 years and am the owner of Madge, our Border Terrier (who makes the occasional appearance in the Target Practice videos).