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Reasoning Reef
Reasoning Reef is all about word problems, the part of maths that dyslexic children often find hardest because of the reading involved.
Every problem can be read aloud. “Break it down” then guides your child through it: read the problem, find the numbers that matter, decide whether to add, take away, multiply or divide, and work it out.
Years 3 and 4: getting started
The Year 3 and 4 skills. Younger children start here, and older children can use them for a recap.
Easy one-step problems
Read the story. Is it add, take away, times or share?
- adding
- taking away
- equal groups
- sharing equally
Easy two-step problems
Two steps: work out the first part, then use your answer for the second part.
- add, then take away
- groups, then add
- take away, then share
Money stories
100p = £1. Add up the prices. Change is what you get back.
- how much altogether?
- change from £1
- buying more than one
Time stories
Count on in minutes. 60 minutes = 1 hour. 7 days = 1 week.
- what time does it end?
- how long?
- days and weeks
Years 5 and 6: next steps
The Year 5 and 6 skills, building up to the KS2 SATs.
One-step problems
Read it. Find the numbers. Decide: add, take away, multiply or divide?
- adding
- taking away
- multiplying
- dividing
Two-step problems
Two jobs to do. Work out the first part, then use that answer for the second part.
- × then +
- + then ÷
- − then ÷
- × then −
Money problems
Pounds and pence. Remember: £1 = 100p.
- cost of several
- change from a note
- how many can you buy
- pounds to pence
Remainders in real life
After dividing, think: do we round up, round down, or is the leftover the answer?
- round up
- round down
- what is left over
Missing numbers
Work backwards. Undo each step with the opposite operation.
- I think of a number
- ? + number
- ? × number
- both sides equal
Fractions and percentages in stories
Fractions and percentages of real things: classes, sales, scores.
- fraction of a group
- sale prices
- what is left
- scores as percentages
Time problems
Hours, minutes and seconds. 1 hour = 60 minutes. 1 minute = 60 seconds.
- how long
- hours into minutes
- minutes into seconds
- weeks and days
Ratio and scaling
For every… there are… Find one part first, then scale up.
- for every
- recipes
- scale on a map
Sequences and negative numbers
Spot the rule in a pattern. Count across zero with negative numbers.
- what comes next
- missing number
- temperature rise
- temperature fall
How Reasoning Reef works
- A short, no-pressure quick check finds the right starting point. It isn’t a test.
- Every question can be read aloud, and hints show a picture first.
- Each level has its own boss battle, unlocked once your child has had plenty of practice.
- Practice is untimed.