Six Ways to Help Students In Math and Have Them Thrive
Maths can be a joyful, confidence building part of the school day. Yet for many students, it becomes a source of stress, avoidance, and frustration. As teachers, we see it every year. The groans when maths is on the timetable. The students who shut down before they even try. The ones who say, “I’m just not good at maths.”
The good news is this. Maths does not have to feel this way. When we understand why students struggle and intentionally design our lessons to meet their needs, we can genuinely help students in math thrive.
In this episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we unpack six key reasons students struggle with maths and, more importantly, what we can do about it in our classrooms.
1. Make Maths Hands On and Meaningful
One of the biggest reasons students struggle is that maths is often introduced as abstract before it is concrete. Students are asked to work with symbols and numbers without first understanding what they represent.
Hands on learning is essential at every age, not just in the early years. Concrete materials help students visualise concepts and build real understanding. Counters, blocks, pattern blocks, playing cards, dice, MAB, Lego, and mini whiteboards all create opportunities for exploration and engagement.
Pairing hands on learning with storytelling makes it even more powerful. Fractions make sense when they are connected to sharing a cake at a party. Multiplication becomes meaningful when it is linked to real world situations. This approach helps students in math connect new concepts to experiences they already understand.
2. Differentiate Without Overwhelm
Differentiation often feels overwhelming, but it does not have to mean planning multiple lessons for every maths session. Small, intentional adjustments can make a big difference.
Differentiation might look like:
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Adjusting the numbers students work with
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Changing the pace of learning
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Offering different levels of support
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Using the same activity with varied content
Maths groups are a powerful way to help students in math at their point of need. One group might work on simpler facts while another explores more complex extensions, all using the same game or structure. This keeps planning manageable while ensuring every student is supported and challenged.
3. Bring Back Explicit Instruction
Explicit instruction is not outdated. It is essential.
Students need clear modelling, guided practice, and opportunities to actively participate while learning new concepts. This does not mean long lectures. Short, focused instruction with high engagement works best.
Using mini whiteboards during explicit teaching encourages participation and allows teachers to quickly check understanding. Students can practise, make mistakes, and try again without fear. This structure gives clarity and confidence, especially for students who find maths challenging.
4. Create a Safe Space to Take Risks
Confidence plays a huge role in maths success. Many students are not struggling because they cannot do the maths, but because they are afraid of being wrong.
To help students in math build confidence:
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Model making mistakes as a teacher
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Talk openly about learning being challenging
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Use language that values effort over speed
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Normalise mistakes as part of learning
Mini whiteboards are a simple but powerful tool here. Students feel safer taking risks when answers can be easily erased. This encourages more students to have a go rather than opting out.
5. Show Students What a Successful Mathematician Looks Like
Students need to know what success in maths actually looks like. Being good at maths is not about finishing first or getting every answer right.
A successful mathematician:
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Explains their thinking
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Uses strategies and tools
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Perseveres through challenges
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Reflects on mistakes and learns from them
Sharing learning intentions and success criteria helps students understand the purpose of each lesson. Teaching problem solving strategies and encouraging students to explain their thinking builds deeper understanding and resilience. This clarity helps students in math see themselves as capable learners.
6. Offer Multiple Ways to Learn
While learning styles may be debated, one thing remains true. Students benefit from experiencing learning in different ways.
Maths lessons should include a mix of:
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Hands on activities
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Visual supports
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Movement based tasks
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Independent practice
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Collaborative learning
Giving students choices within maths activities allows them to engage in ways that suit them while still meeting learning goals. Reflection is also important. When students talk about what helped them learn, they become more aware of themselves as learners.
Helping Students in Math Starts With Intentional Design
When maths lessons are hands on, differentiated, explicit, supportive, and flexible, students begin to feel safe, capable, and motivated. These six elements work together to transform maths from something students fear into something they can approach with confidence.
When we intentionally design lessons with these principles in mind, we truly help students in math build skills that last far beyond the classroom.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Free Guide: 6 Strategies to Boost Student Success in Maths
- Transform Your Maths Groups course – Learn the exact model Ash & Alisha use
- Growth Mindset Mini Tags Freebie
- Skip Counting Games
