Strategies for Learning and Teaching

Use concrete materials and start from practical activities.
Avoid creating anxiety for the student.
Establish the student’s preferred learning style.
Teach more than one way to solve mathematical operations.
Build on student’s existing knowledge.
Try to understand the student’s errors, do not just settle for wrong.
Concentrate on one concept at a time.
Language should be kept to a minimum and specific cues given for various mathematical operations in word problems.
Encourage students to visualise mathematical problems. Allow students to draw a picture to help them understand the problem and ensure they take time to look at any visual information such as charts and graphs.
If the student does not have co-existing reading difficulties, encourage him/her to read problems aloud.
In the early stages of teaching new mathematical skills ensure that the mathematical problems are free of large numbers and unnecessary calculations.
Provide examples and try to relate problems to real-life situations.
Provide students with graph paper/squared paper and encourage them to use this to keep the numbers in line.
Ask to explain verbally how he/she arrived at particular solutions.
Explain new concepts in a logical manner.
Encourage students to teach a concept back in order to check understanding.
Ensure worksheets are uncluttered and clearly laid out and provide ample room for uncluttered computation. Ensure that the page does not look intimidating.
Limit copying from the board.
Allow students to use computers and calculators, especially to self-correct.
Provide students with extra time to complete tasks and encourage the use of rough work for calculations.
Directly teach the language of Mathematics.
Always bear in mind the language of Mathematics differs significantly from spoken English.
Use consistent mathematical language both in your classroom and throughout the school.
Make use of mnemonics and visual prompting cards to assist students in memorising rules, formulae and tables. Repetition is also very important.
Always match the strategy to the student’s identified needs and abilities.