ABSTRACT
This chapter explores ways of helping pupils who perform poorly in mathematics, with particular reference to those in the age range 8 to 12 years. Two approaches are outlined to tackle the special needs of primary school pupils whose attainment in mathematics is low. The first of these is the objectives approach. An alternative or complementary approach is to seek to identify meaningful and genuinely purposeful situations and activities in which low attaining pupils can develop their mathematical skills. A traditional approach to tackling the problems of low attainers in mathematics, particularly in the USA with reference to arithmetic skills, has been the specification of precise, behavioural target objectives, followed by diagnosis of the pupil's performance against the objectives, and then a programme of remediation. If the teacher is aiming for understanding then the major task will be to devise activities which help the pupils to build up connections, particularly the important connections between symbols, language, concrete situations and pictures.
