7 Effective Strategies for

Teaching Elementary Math

Teaching math in a mixed-ability classroom should take into account different learning abilities.

Teaching in today's mixed-ability classroom can be a challenge. These days, it's not
uncommon to find a wide range of abilities in the one classroom—from students
struggling to grasp new concepts, to those who are way ahead of their peers from day
one.

This factor has contributed to a range of problems for early math learners, including a
large achievement gap between students. Read more about how students can
benefit from technology that supports differentiated instruction.
While individual students do benefit from different learning styles, there are a range of
effective strategies which can help all students to succeed.

Additionally, the highly engaging, self-paced Mathseeds program offers a research-

based solution for mixed-ability K–2 math classrooms, making math fun, interactive, and
personalized for young learners. Start your free trial now.

Here are seven effective strategies for teaching elementary math:

1. Make it hands-on
Elementary math can be difficult because it involves learning new, abstract concepts
that can be tricky for children to visualize.

Try to imagine what it's like for a five-year-old to see an addition problem for the very
first time. Since it's a totally new concept to them, it can be hard for them to visualize a
scenario where one quantity is added to another.

Manipulatives are hands-on tools that make math a lot easier for young children to
understand. Tools like Lego, clay, and wooden blocks can all be used in the classroom
to demonstrate how math ideas work.

For example, Lego is a great way to demonstrate number building, operations, fractions,
sorting, patterns, 3D shapes, and more.

2. Use visuals and images

While students will come across countless graphs and visuals in their math textbooks,
research shows this isn't the only place they should be utilized.

According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the most powerful way
to use graphics in elementary math is in conjunction with specific practice or guidance,
either from a teacher or another classroom tool such as Mathseeds.
The Mathseeds online math program uses colorful visuals, graphics, and catchy songs to clearly
demonstrate elementary math concepts in a fun and engaging way. Students can revisit lessons
until they fully understand each topic. Free trial.

3. Find opportunities to differentiate

learning
It's important that students feel comfortable and are given the opportunity to learn new
math ideas at their own pace, without feeling rushed. But while the idea that 'given
enough time, every student will learn' is nothing new, it's easier said than done.

Mastery learning is about giving students as much time as they need to grasp a specific
skill or concept. It involves varying the time you give each student to succeed.

Technology-based classroom tools offer a powerful way to differentiate learning while

teaching elementary math, which is an effective way to help students in mixed-ability
classrooms to succeed. Learn more here.

4. Ask students to explain their ideas

Have you ever noticed how much more confident you feel about a concept after
explaining it to someone else?

Meta-cognition is the process of thinking about your options, choices, and results, and it
has a big impact on the way students learn.

Before assigning a math problem, ask students to brainstorm problem-solving strategies

they can use. Encourage students to work together to suggest different strategies in a
respectful way.

This process can be carried out at every stage of problem solving when teaching
elementary math. Once students have offered an answer, ask them to verbalize step-
by-step how they got that answer.

5. Incorporate storytelling to make

connections to real-world scenarios
When it comes to igniting the interest of young minds, not much comes close to a good
story.

Incorporate story problems into your classroom lessons allow students to see how
certain math concepts can apply to real life. Story problems are also a good way to help
students understand how to use math in everyday life, and see the relevance of math.
The Mathseeds online math program uses animated story problems to help students apply new
math skills to real-world situations. Free trial.

Mathseeds provides colorful end-of-lesson books as part of its online program. Many of
these are designed so students read the problem, work through it independently, and
then turn to the next page to see the solution.

6. Show and tell new concepts

Elementary math teachers should normally begin each lesson with a 'show and tell.'
Telling is the process of sharing information and knowledge with students, while
showing involves modeling how to do something.

These days, teachers can really kick 'show and tell' up a notch with an interactive
whiteboard, using animations, and videos to clearly show and tell specific math
concepts in an engaging and interesting way.
 7. Let your students regularly know
how they're doing
Feedback is an important part of teaching elementary math and improving students'
results.

Let your students know how they have performed on a specific task, along with helpful
ways that they can further improve and extend their skills.

Remember, feedback is different to praise. Focus your feedback on the task itself
(rather than the student) and make sure they have a clear understanding of what they
did well and how they can improve next time. In Carol Dweck's research around what's
known as the 'growth mindset', she writes:

“The growth mindset was intended to help close achievement gaps, not hide them. It
is about telling the truth about a student's current achievement and then, together,
doing something about it, helping him or her become smarter.”
Do you teach elementary math? Mathseeds is the research-based online math
program specifically designed for students in grades K–2. Created by a highly
experienced team of elementary teachers, Mathseeds provides self-paced lessons,
automated reporting, and a range of teaching tools to help your elementary math
students succeed. Sign up for a free trial today.

What are the 8 effective mathematics teaching practices?

Mathematics Teaching Practices
 Establish mathematics goals to focus reasoning. ...
 Implement tasks that promote reasoning and problem solving. ...
 Use and connect mathematical representations. ...
 Facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse. ...
 Pose purposeful questions. ...
 Build procedural fluency from conceptual understanding.
 The 10 Things That Worry Math Teachers
the Most
Issues and Possible Solutions
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By

Melissa Kelly

Updated on October 08, 2018

While all curriculum areas share some of the same issues and concerns, math
teachers have issues that are specific with regard to students. Most students can
read and write by the middle elementary school years. Math, however, can be
intimidating to students, particularly as they advance from basic addition and
subtraction to fractions and even to algebra and geometry. To help math teachers
cope with these issues, this list looks at the top 10 concerns for math teachers,
along with some possible answers.
01

of 10

Prerequisite Knowledge
 Emilija Manevska/Getty Images

Math curriculum often builds on information learned in previous years. If a

student does not have the required prerequisite knowledge, then a math teacher
is left with the choice of either remediation or forging ahead and covering
material the student might not understand.

02

of 10

Connections to Real Life

 Vera Kandybovich / EyeEm/Getty Images
Consumer math is easily connected to daily life. However, it can often be hard for
students to see the connection between their lives and geometry, trigonometry,
and even basic algebra. When students do not see why they have to learn a topic,
this impacts their motivation and retention. Teachers can get around this by
giving real-life examples showing where students might use the math concepts
being taught, particularly in upper-level math.
03

of 10

Cheating
 Maica/Getty Images

Unlike courses where students have to write essays or create detailed reports,
math is often reduced to solving problems. It can be difficult for a math teacher to
determine if students are cheating. Typically, math teachers use wrong answers
and incorrect solving methods to determine if students did, in fact, cheat.
04

of 10

Math Block
 cristinairanzo/Getty Images

Some students have come to believe over time that they are just not good at math.
This type of attitude can result in students failing to even try to learn certain
topics. Fighting this self-esteem-related issue can be difficult, but pulling
students aside individually to reassure them can help pupils overcome math
block. Judy Willis, in her book, "Learning to Love Math," suggests that math
teachers can boost student confidence with strategies such as "errorless math,"
where "teachers or peer tutors provide verbal or gesture prompts to increase the
probability of a correct response, which eventually becomes a correct answer."

05

of 10

Varying Instruction
 Varying Instruction/Getty Images

The teaching of mathematics does not lend itself to a great deal of varied
instruction. While teachers can have students present material, work in small
groups for certain topics, and create multimedia projects dealing with math, the
norm of a math classroom is direct instruction followed by a period of solving
problems.

06

of 10

Dealing With Absences

 Gumawang Jati / EyeEm / Getty Images

When students miss a math class at key instructional points, it can be difficult for
them to catch up. For example, if a student is absent on the first few days when a
new topic is being discussed and explained, such as solving for variables, a
teacher will be faced with the issue of helping that student learn the material on
her own.
07

of 10

Timely Grading
 Thinkstock/Getty Images

Math teachers, more than educators in many other curriculum areas, need to
keep up with the daily grading of assignments. It does not help a student to have
a paper returned a few weeks after the unit has been completed. Only by seeing
what mistakes they have made and working to correct those will students be able
to use that information effectively. Giving immediate feedback is particularly
important for math teachers.

08

of 10

After-School Tutoring
 PhotoAlto/Dinoco Greco/Getty Images

Math teachers typically have many demands on their before- and after- school
time from students who need extra help. This may require a greater dedication on
the part of math teachers, but the extra help is usually vital to help students
understand and master the topics being learned.

09

of 10

Varying Student Abilities

 Tetra Images/Getty Images

Math teachers often have classes with students of varying ability levels within the
same classroom. This might result from gaps in prerequisite knowledge or
students' individual feelings in regard to their ability to learn math. Teachers
must decide how to meet the needs of the individual students in their classrooms,
possibly through additional tutoring (as discussed previously) or sitting down
with students to assess their abilities and reassure them of their ability to
succeed.

10

of 10

Homework Issues
 Lisa Schaetzle/Getty Images

Math curriculum often requires daily practice and review for mastery. Therefore,
the completion of daily homework assignments is essential to learning the
material. Students who do not complete their homework or who copy from other
students often struggle at test time. Dealing with this issue is often very difficult
for math teachers.