I had the opportunity to observe a Year 4 student as they worked on core mathematical concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and long division.
The student began the session with addition and subtraction problems. These exercises served as a warm-up, reinforcing their mental arithmetic skills and ensuring they were comfortable with basic operations.
They then transitioned to multiplication, where the focus was on two-digit numbers. The student displayed a strong understanding of their times tables, which laid a solid foundation for tackling more complex problems.
The most challenging part of the session was long division. The multi-step nature of long division can be overwhelming for students at this stage. Initially, the student struggled to keep track of the process: dividing, multiplying, subtracting, and bringing down the next digit. To simplify things, the tutor broke the problem into clear, manageable steps and used repetitive practice to reinforce the method. By the end of the session, the student successfully completed a problem on their own, a rewarding moment for both the tutor and the student.
This session emphasized the importance of patience, clear explanations, and practice in teaching mathematics. Foundational math skills are critical for students, and building confidence early ensures they are well-prepared for more advanced topics in the future. Every small breakthrough matters and serves as a stepping stone for greater achievements.
Joseph Taouk
