For May, we've added to our library of Maths of the Month activities - free for you to download and use. We have information about our online CD-ROM demonstrations and free samples, updates on new products, and details of resources that are coming soon. We also have news on our upcoming conferences, details of the BEAM bulletin and information on how to arrange a visit from a BEAM representative.

Maths of the Month
Once again, we've added a new set of downloadable Maths of the Month games and activities for children aged 3-13. Use them in the maths club, to send home, in those odd spare minutes, or as part of your general resources. You can find a list of all Maths of the Month activities for your chosen age group by clicking on the ages at the top of the planning grid.

Online BEAM CD-ROM demonstrations
We now have online demonstrations of some of our CD-ROMs. The demonstrations will give you a much better idea of what to expect from our high quality interactive resources. Take a closer look at our Number Challenge Interactive series, which was recently shortlisted for a BETT award. Click here for more information.

Free samples
To give you a clearer idea of the quality of our resources, we have produced some free samples of some of our new titles. Why not order your free sample of our Booster Packs , I'm a Mathematician stickers or Brainbuster Maths Box activities to try them out?

New products
I'm a Mathematician: maths stickers
These are not your run-of-the-mill "Well done!" stickers. Oh no, these are special. We want children to feel positive about maths and about themselves as mathematicians. Children will love showing you they are 'Good maths buddies', 'Wicked at maths'. and 'I'm a mathematician' . And Primary Strategy research confirms that a positive self-perception can help boost achievement. Email us for a free sampler pack.

Coming soon
BEAM calendar 2008-9
Provide vibrant and stimulating maths in the classroom and at home with our new maths calendar. It's jam-packed with problems, questions and puzzles. Each month reveals stunning full-colour images that demonstrate the presence of mathematics everywhere in our environment, so the calendar is perfect for cross-curricular work. Use it to start the day, kick off your maths lessons or trigger discussion in the maths club. And at 30 cm x 60 cm, it will provide a big splash of colour to your classroom walls throughout the school year. Available now.

Playing with maths
We want children to look forward to playing BEAM games: to clamour for you to get them out of the cupboard and then to play them time and again. So we've based these superb new sets of Early Years board games on themes that captivate young children such as frogs, bears, balloons and castles. Available July 2008.

Maths Buzz
Get the class buzzing with Maths Buzz! Working in pairs or small groups, children use their reasoning skills to figure out how to organise a collection of picture cards. Can they work out the order of the racing robots or arrange the hats on the shelves? Children will develop their speaking and listening skills and their problem-solving abilities as they work together to sort out the clues and deduce the solutions. Available June 2008.

Know-All Boxes
Many children need extra help to memorise their number bonds and their times tables. Now these two structured packs for Teaching Assistants can help ensure children have number facts at their fingertips. There's an emphasis on peer tutoring and testing, and children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. In each pack, we've included 20 activities to be led by the TA, plenty of games and all necessary equipment. Available July 2008.

Conferences
Join us at one of our 2008 conferences. You'll meet with other interested professionals, hear the latest thinking about maths education and enjoy time out to reflect on your teaching. Return to your school or setting refreshed, invigorated and full of new ideas.

Primary Conferences
Working together: Communities of learners in primary mathematics
London - Friday 13 June 2008
Manchester - Friday 20 June 2008
Bristol - Friday 27 June 2008

Mathematics for Excellence: Capacity building in the primary years
Stirling – Saturday 22 November 2008


Early Years Maths Conference
A problem-solving approach
London – Friday 14 November 2008

BEAM bulletin
Our monthly email bulletin contains the latest information on resources and professional development and it's now illustrated with dazzling product images, screenshots and page spreads. A great way to brighten up your in-box! To subscribe to the free BEAM bulletin mailing list, click here.

BEAM representatives
You can arrange for a local representative to visit your school or setting to offer advice on choosing BEAM resources. For contact details of your local representative call us on 01242 267 284 or email shughes@nelsonthornes.com