Pupils face the following difficulties: “oneteen, twoteen, threeteen, fourteen, fiveteen sixteen …”; “twoty, threety, fourty, fivety, sixty”; and place value, eg. “value of 3 in 315?” Can portfolios help?

Each pupil should have their own portfolio so that the teacher can diagnose their learning difficulties. In addition, this can also help monitor their learning progress from time to time. To improve their Math’s learning especially with such difficulties, the teacher can assess pupils’ math ability on addition through step-by-step evaluation. Hence from basic to more challenging activities. First, test the pupils on addition of 1 digit number by 1 digit number; ensure they know how to add up this kind of math problem. The exercises can be facilitated through pictures, for e.g. adding 1+3 can be represented by adding 1 red apple to 3 red apples. Alternatively, they could use concrete objects to add up 1 digit by 1 digit, for example, 2+3 can be calculated using lego blocks. This can also improve their gross skills development.

After they have done the basic calculation, then the teacher can advance to the next level, which is adding up to 2 digits numbers. Pupils can use drawing to represent their calculations. Then after the pupils have shown progress, the teacher can introduce a more mathematical concept such how to compute using the “borrowing method”. When pupils are competent in adding up 2 digits numbers, the teacher can test the pupils’ ability in adding up 3 digit numbers. They can use simple teaching aids, such as abacus to add up each column of digit number. The teacher can also use songs to add up simple numbers, for example, using ‘Old Mac Donald’ to add up 1 to 3 digit numbers. This can also help their mental arithmetic skills.

The children can also use Math computer games available on the Internet (e.g. from BBC website) to motivate and help them learn about addition and other basic Math operations; subtraction, multiplication etc. All the pupils’ work can be archived into individual portfolios so that the teacher can diagnose the pupils’ learning difficulties and improve their learning in Mathematics. Another suggestion is that the pupils’ work or progress report can be archived online using blogs or database.