I'm often asked which key topics teachers can pay special attention to when it comes to maths. Students need to develop a strong numbers sense from an early age built on understanding of quantity.
They need to be able to pull numbers apart in many different ways so they can engage in value based not digit based mental computation strategies. From year four, students really need to have a deep understanding of fractions based on multiplicative strategies not additive strategies.
From the early years, notions of proportional reasoning need to be informally developed so that by year six students have an understanding of proportional reasoning and multiplicative reasoning.
You've heard us say it before, but we'll say it again: you can help students gain a positive appreciation for maths by giving them time to really think about a problem.
If we build on students’ earlier intuitive thinking, we can ensure all students like maths and are successful. Avoid 'rescuing' students and treating maths like it’s a race - trying to cover the curriculum rather than developing a deep understanding. Later maths is built on earlier mathematically building blocks. Enable the students to develop a good foundation and the rest will follow.
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