Liz Edmondson-Smith (Cert Ed Dip RSA SpLD AMBDA) is a highly experienced teacher specialising in Maths and Literacy. She is a keen educational game creator and designer with an extensive background in teaching children and adults with specific learning difficulties. She lives in Wiltshire.

Liz devised the game Sequo to encourage children to enjoy Maths, reinforce times table number patterns and to enhance sequential memory skills through play. Following successful trials in local schools it is now being made available to the general public for the first time. More exciting educational products are in the pipeline.

Liz is also a trustee for the charity 'An African Dream' - Western Uganda. She specialises in educational projects at Pre-School, Primary and Secondary levels.

Sequo is a fantastic resource to support children with a range of mathematical concepts - particularly times tables. My two children absolutely love playing the game, and we appreciate the additional support available in the times table card to support children who do not yet know all their times tables. Without realising, the children are learning whilst having fun!

The regular repetition and visualisation of times table facts will certainly help cement the number facts into children's memory. Alongside this, the pack includes helpful hints and tips for learning times tables. I can't wait to try this within my school setting and would highly recommend the game.

Vikki Vince, special needs coordinator and senior teacher at Heddington Primary School, Calne

As a specialist teacher for pupils with maths difficulties and Dyscalculia I am always on the look out for new games and resources. Many of my pupils have working memory difficulties and maths anxiety and find recalling multiplication facts quickly very challenging. SEQUO links step counting to times tables sequences enabling pupils to derive times tables facts. SEQUO provides an opportunity for overlearning and consolidation of step counting to work out times tables facts in a fun, engaging way. My pupils loved it. I would highly recommend adding this game to your resources for teaching pupils with maths difficulties. Thanks Liz for creating a great game with a different approach that takes the stress out of learning multiplication facts.

Sally Tempest BEd(Hons) PGDip AMBDA PPM; Tutor with Metamorphosis Educational Consultancy

I really enjoyed playing this Times Tables game - SEQUO, as it is a reasoning based game which supports learning tables by step-counting from known facts. Some children and adults have memory challenges and therefore find it difficult to learn times tables by rote.

My pupils thought the game was great fun and they enjoyed collecting sets of tables and beating their teaching into the bargain!

Rob Jennings; Co-Founder of The Dyscalculia Network: dyscalculianetwork.com

I am most impressed by the new card game Sequo created by Liz Edmondson-Smith, both in concept and execution. Liz has drawn on her many years of experience in the fields of SLD teaching and design to come up with a highly effective solution to a common and widespread problem, that of securing knowledge of multiplication tables. What is more, this is achieved in a fun and original way - no more tedious rote learning of tables charts - and I therefore commend Sequo to all parents, tutors and teachers looking to help children master those number sequences while thoroughly enjoying the process!

Dr Tim Price MA DPhil(Oxon); Maths tutor and author of Maths Connections and MATHSprint software

I think the game is fantastic! Now I can see which tables I need to practise. Amber (10)

I've always struggled with times tables and this game has made it so much easier for me. Jack (12)

I really enjoy the game a lot. You can have a lot of fun and learn something. Holly (8)

I really like playing Sequo with my mum and dad. I am much better at it than them. I’ve played it with my friends too. It's lots of fun. I’m nearly better than my big brother at times tables now. Maisie (10)

This is a really fun game. I feel like it helps me to learn the sequences. Jessica (9)

Sequo helped me to quickly and easily learn my times tables because it helped me to remember the different number sequences. It's a fun game to play with my older sister and cousin. Beth (12)

• Q. How many people can play Sequo at one time?

• A. Sequo is for 2 to 4 players.




• Q. Can the game be played by children with different levels of ability?

• A. Yes, specific table cards can be chosen and played. There is also a times table grid to give the table answers if necessary.




• Q. How is Sequo played?

• A. The aim is to collect 4 cards in each table number set (like in Happy Families). Players are dealt a mixture of table cards which they keep secret from other players and then ask each other for the cards they each need to make a set. They have to say (from memory) three particular numbers within the table sequence in order to get the card they are asking for. The winner has the most table sets at the end of the game.




• Q. What supplementary rules may be included during play?

• A. You may find it helpful to add the supplementary rule that a player is not allowed to reclaim a card that has just been taken from them until at least one turn has passed.




• Q. How does Sequo help children to store their times table sequences into long term memory?

• A. Through play, visualisation and repetition.




• Q. Are the cards dyslexia friendly?

• A. Yes, the instructions and teaching cards use an off-white background. Also, the cards in Sequo can be held either way up to read the same.




• Q. How can the game Sequo be used in one-to-one SpLD teaching sessions?

• A. Special needs teachers all know what fun it is to finish a teaching session with a game. In this case the teacher could, for example, select 4 specific tables (16 cards) to target for reinforcement.  Both teacher and pupil are dealt 4 cards each and the remaining cards are placed face down in a central pile. The game continues as normal but will probably take only 5-10 minutes to complete. See below for fuller details.




• Q. Are there any useful times table teaching points included in the pack?

• A. Yes, a useful teaching point is given on each of the tables 2-12.




• Q. Are there other teaching points included in the pack?

• A. Yes, names for 3-12 sided shapes and introductions to prime and square numbers.




• Q. Do the cards have any sharp edges?

• A. No, they all have rounded corners.




• Q. Why are the numbers upside-down on one side of each table game card?

• A. The game cards are designed in such a way that the numbers can be read which ever way they are picked up.




• Q. Can you play other games with the cards?

• A. See below for some shortened versions of Sequo. You can also play versions of 'Pairs' or 'Snap' with the same cards.




• Q. Do you have instructions available in other languages?

• A. Yes - click on the flags below to download translated instructions. The document will appear in a new tab in your browser.

  

Using SEQUO to review one particular table:

• Set out the four relevant SEQUO game table cards for the chosen table in sequence.

• Use the guide card to notice a particular characteristic of that table, e.g. 2x = even numbers

• Download the ‘Table Squares’ sheet here. Cut out one of the table squares and ask the pupil to circle the relevant table numbers in order to observe a visual pattern.

• If further time allows and relevant …Using small blank flash cards, ask the pupil to copy down the numbers in the particular table sequence on each card. Jumble the cards and the pupil can rearrange them in sequence.

• You can also download this multiplication table grid for reference.

Using SEQUO for a short game (approximately 10 minutes):

• Choose four table sets of playing cards which include at least one easier table.

• Explain how the game works and show what a complete table family looks like.

• If necessary review the table patterns using the Times table Grid card and table guide cards as relevant.

• The game is played in the same way as normal. The teacher may decide to assist in the pupil’s success.