24/06/2025
Let's Talk About "Small Steps" in Maths Teaching!
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the lesson plan suggests covering a seemingly massive topic in a single go? ๐ค
The CanDoMaths Team (Liz Hopkins and Steve Lomax) have been there too, and it's no surprise that it can feel overwhelming for students. ๐
Take, for example, the concept of multiplying and dividing numbers by 10 and 100. Sure, it might sound like a "small step" on paper, but in reality, it's a lot to digest in just one lesson! ๐
Let's break it down:
- Whole numbers: 34 x 10 (just add a zero!๐คจ)
- Decimals: 3.4 x 10 (wait, the answer's not 3.40?)
- Whole number: 560 รท 10 (just remove the zero!๐ง)
- Decimals: 0.56 รท 10 (uh-oh, the answer's not .56!)
And guess what? That's just multiplying by 10!
We've still got to tackle multiplying and dividing by 100 in the same lesson! ๐ฑ
Calling it a "small step" doesn't magically make it easier to teach or learn, especially when it feels like too much to cover in one go.
Some of us might even feel nervous about delivering these "small steps" of mastery. ๐ฌ
It's heartbreaking when we realise that some students are struggling to keep up during the lesson, and we simply don't have enough time to give them the support they need.
So, what's the solution?
We believe that "small steps" should actually be broken down into more manageable steps โ ones that both teachers and students can handle without feeling overwhelmed. ๐
If you're nodding along and feeling the struggle, check out our blog where we dive deeper into this topic: https://candomaths.mykajabi.com/blog/mastery-is-not-working
We hope you find it helpful! ๐ Let's make learning maths a more manageable journey for everyone! ๐