2000–2010 | MOE Primary School Teacher
I began my teaching career in 2000 as an MOE Primary School teacher, teaching Primary Mathematics.
During my time in MOE, I developed a strong foundation in helping children understand Math concepts and solve problems.
2010–2016 | Mind Stretcher Learning Centre
After leaving MOE in 2010, I joined Mind Stretcher Learning Centre, where I taught Primary 3 to 6 Mathematics until June 2016.
During my six years there, I gained extensive experience helping students strengthen their Math concepts and develop their problem-solving skills.
2010–2016 | Private Math Tuition
During this period, I also provided private Primary Math tuition, working closely with students on a one-to-one basis.
This experience helped me better understand individual learning needs and how to adapt my teaching to support each student.
2016–Present | Founder of Math Learning Groups (MLGs)
In 2016, I founded Math Learning Groups (MLGs) to provide structured Primary Math learning in small groups.
With a maximum of six students per class, I am able to give greater attention to each student's understanding, learning needs and progress.
2025 - Present, Founder of Heuristics Mind
I founded Heuristics Mind in 2025 with a stronger focus on Primary Math heuristics and problem solving.
Today, I teach students through online lessons, Masterclasses and structured programmes to help them become stronger and more confident problem solvers.
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that every child can become better at Math when they understand what they are doing and why it works.
Throughout my years of teaching, I have seen students memorise formulas and methods without fully understanding when or why to use them. They may be able to solve familiar questions, but struggle when the same concept is presented in a different way.
My approach is to help students understand the concepts behind the Math, recognise the structure of different problems, and develop a systematic way of deciding which strategy or heuristic to use.
Learning to Think, Solve and Achieve
I also believe that mistakes are an important part of learning. Instead of simply showing students the correct solution, I encourage them to understand where their thinking went wrong and how they can approach similar questions more effectively the next time.
At the same time, students need to learn to recognise and avoid common careless mistakes. I teach students to identify the types of errors they frequently make, develop good checking habits, and become more careful and systematic in their working. The aim is not simply to tell students to “be more careful”, but to give them practical ways to reduce avoidable mistakes.
Ultimately, my goal is not simply to help students arrive at the correct answer. It is to help them become independent, confident and thoughtful Math problem solvers.
How My Teaching Philosophy Shapes My Lessons
Build Strong Conceptual Understanding
Help students understand the Math behind the methods, make meaningful connections between concepts, and develop the confidence to apply what they have learnt to both familiar and unfamiliar questions.
Recognise Problems & Choose Strategies
Students learn to identify important clues and recognise common problem structures before deciding how to solve a question. This helps them select appropriate heuristics and problem-solving strategies instead of relying on guesswork.
Learn from Mistakes
Mistakes provide valuable opportunities for deeper learning. By identifying misconceptions and recurring careless errors, students develop better checking habits and learn how to avoid making the same mistakes again.
Develop Independent Problem Solvers
The goal is for students to become less dependent on being shown what to do. Through guided questioning and purposeful practice, students are encouraged to think, explain their reasoning and solve problems independently with greater confidence.
Discover How Mr Ong Teaches Math Problem-Solving
Throughout his years of teaching Primary Math, Mr Ong has seen that students often struggle not because they lack mathematical knowledge, but because they are unsure how to begin when faced with an unfamiliar or challenging problem.
His approach is to help students look beyond memorised methods and learn how to understand the problem, recognise important relationships and decide which strategy to use.
This is where PSLE Math heuristics play an important role. By learning different problem-solving strategies and understanding when to apply them, students can approach challenging questions in a more systematic, confident and independent way.
Discover the key PSLE Math heuristics Mr Ong teaches and how they can help your child become a stronger Math problem solver.