Primary Maths Tutors

How much tutoring does your child need?

• What’s new in primary maths?
• Main content of primary maths?
• Common challenges for students in primary maths?
• Main outcomes for primary maths?
• Most important concepts to ensure your child understands in primary maths?
• If you chose to get a tutor, study habits and content to focus on in primary maths?
• Main challenges involved in tutoring a primary maths student?
• Some good ideas on how to help your child in primary maths?

What’s new in primary maths?

Recognition of number systems and ability to count, write and order numbers of any size. Recognition of negative, prime and composite numbers. Addition and subtraction of numbers up to four digits; multiplication and division of numbers up to 2 digits. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide decimals and fractions as well as work with money concepts involving these. Construction of number sentences involving all four operations. Introduction to probability through the concept of chance and the likelihood of event occurrence. Recognition and construction of simple geometric patterns. Construction and interpretation of data representations as well as the ability to calculate the mean of any data set. Taking measurements of length, area, volume, mass and time and using the appropriate units of measurement. Identification and construction of 2-dimensional shapes and 3-dimensional objects as well as the classification and measurement of angles.

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Main content of primary maths

The main content of primary maths include:

• Recognition of integers both positive and negatives,
• Working with whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentages, rates and ratios with the aim of introducing real world calculations involving money,
  • (using the four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with all these numbers)
• Basic statistical methods including collection, collation and presentation of data as well as an introduction to chance events as a way of explaining basic probabilities,
• Geometry topics involving recognizing and constructing basic shapes and objects such as triangles and prisms,
• Taking measurements in the right units.

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Common challenges for students in primary maths

Challenges in primary maths include the ability to express basic maths concept. Some students may find it difficult to construct number sentences of mathematical operations they have performed. Prime numbers and negative numbers may initially present difficulties just as sorting out the various units of measurement will be challenging to students at this stage. Of course, it is also necessary to mention the most common problem of fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios and the way that they are all interconnected. Towards the end of primary school, when there is often more than one way to solve a problem, students find it challenging to unify their knowledge and use it in a variety of contexts.

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Main outcomes for primary maths

At the end of primary school maths education, students should be able to work with integers, fractions, decimal and percentages using the four basic maths operations. Likewise, they should be able to take measurements and use the appropriate units. They must, at the end of primary maths, be able to present data collected in simple graphical forms (line charts, bar graphs and pie charts). Ability to recognize and draw shapes in 2- and 3-dimensions is also expected to be fully grasped.

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Most important concepts to ensure your child understands in year primary maths

Working with numbers is the most important concept your child must understand at the end of Primary School maths. The ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide integers, fractions, decimals and percentages is central to all other aspects of maths. In addition, recognition and construction of geometric patterns and shapes are highly essential.

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If hiring a tutor, what study habits and content to focus on in primary maths?

Encourage ample demonstration from the tutor at this stage and, as much as possible, expose your child to real world problems and applications of concepts learned in primary maths. This is one good way to fully understand maths at this level because it helps transform abstract ideas into concrete understanding.

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Main challenges involved in tutoring a primary maths student

Introduction of many new concepts is a main challenge in tutoring a primary maths student. At this stage, you need to be patient with students when tutoring them as they can quickly forget what has been learnt.

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Some good ideas on how to help your child in primary maths

Constant attention and lots of opportunities to use the concepts taught in primary maths is the best way to help your child learn. Often a qualified tutor can give the needed attention, patience and exercises to keep your child learning with the class. A great deal of encouragement is also advised. Students in primary maths often struggle with the transition from rote learning to seeking genuine understanding. Simply, they are not used to having to “struggle” to figure out a question in situations where you can’t memorise what to do. Students need to understand that they are not supposed to magically know the answer to every question. They are supposed to strain their brain at times. Instilling this understanding will take a lot of encouragement.

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