ABSTRACT
To illustrate some ideas and principles for teaching maths topics I have picked long division and fractions. I would guess that the two leading contenders for the most anxiety inducing, no attempt causing, high error rate generating topics in numeracy are long division and fractions (see Chapter 7). As I collect the data for the screening test that will be part of the companion book, More Trouble with Maths the frequency of ‘no attempts’ for the division items, 238 , 106030 and 23 1000, is quite depressing. I could speculate as to why division creates so many issues for people by considering the skills, language and number fact knowledge required. The situation in the data collection for fractions is equally depressing. There are less ‘no attempts’ but a very low frequency of correct answers.
