Working backwards?

From Secondary to Primary

Over the last seven years HeyMath! has developed a network of lessons covering secondary level mathematics. We have continually refined the product in response to feedback and requests from the schools we work with.

In May 2007 we started to move on… to primary level!

The maths at primary level is more basic than the maths at secondary level, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is easier to teach.

The needs for clarity, fun, a good foundation and interaction are greater at primary level. There also seem to be greater opportunities for creativity, motivation and inspiring a love of maths.


Creating a teaching resource

Here is my experience of preparing a plan for a primary lesson:

My first few ideas are usually fairly dull, so I make a big effort to think 'outside the box'.
- What is the heart of this concept?
- Identify with where a student is coming from: What would be familiar to them? What is new? Why is it hard? Where are the potential traps?
- What contexts could appeal to the student? What contexts could be new and diversify their experience?
Then I hit on something that grabs my imagination: perhaps an engaging presentation that gets to the heart of the concept, or a fun activity that provides lots of practice.

Once I am excited about the material then it is hard to make anything other than a top quality lesson!

During the creation process itself I often find my explanations getting clearer and simpler. This means that for some topics it is helpful to create lessons 'in reverse'. For example I made a review of the long division method at primary 4 level before attempting to teach the method at primary 3 level.


Philosophies and techniques

I feel that the philosophies and techniques I've developed while working on secondary level lessons can be applied even more effectively at primary level. I believe in techniques such as these:

Let's tell stories to engage the imagination. So you could have Mary sharing 63 oranges between 7 friends. But so what? Ralph is an Antarctic explorer dividing fish among penguins. That's a more engaging story!

Let's use accurate mathematical language in familiar contexts. Let's use the word 'remainder' in our English sentences as well as in Maths division exercises.

Let's create memorable settings for the concepts.

Let's learn by doing. Animated maths must not be a spectator sport. We can often interact with a concept even before we've been taught it formally.

Let's be brave enough to bring diversity by introducing new and fruitful settings for a holistic learning experience.



Feedback?

We would of course welcome further feedback from you as teachers and students. Feel free to comment on this post: What methods have you found work well? How important are real-life applications?


Your ideas, experience or research will help us further improve the resources you see at HeyMath!