Do you hate
mathematics?
Are you the only one
in your classroom who don’t like mathematics?
Ask the same question
to your friends or classmates? You will be surprised to see that all (rather
most of) the hands go up. Yes! Majority of students, in all over the world,
have doubts on their mathematical ability, despite the fact that mathematics is
in our DNA.
Don’t you pull the
brakes when something suddenly appears in front of your vehicle? Don’t you
unintentionally yet perfectly calculate the right distance? Isn’t it a great
mathematical calculation? Yes, it is and it proves that mathematics silently
resides in our mind. Apparently, the mathematics is in our DNA.
Origin of Math Fear
Psychologists believe
that right portion of our brain does not assess the situation unless we
instruct. Once we instruct our right brain start looking for solutions until we
proclaim that we got the solution. On the other hand, left portion of our brain
examines things or situation we face. For example, when we wake up our left
brain examines our dream and as soon as it concludes that the dream was false
or crap, we start forgetting the dream.
Apparently, whatever
we learn in our mathematics classes is just a ‘shadow mathematics’. All the
manipulation of numbers stores in our left brain as a one false image on the
top of another. The false image refers to some bizarre believes that you can
get only one solution of your mathematical problem and mathematics is all about
mugging up formulae which is something, with which many people don’t identify
themselves.
The irony is our
elders blame our poor score in mathematics onto our gene. They believe that
only geniuses have god-gifted mathematical gene and therefore they can easily
understand all the mathematical equations and formula.
Source: http://www.tpr-world.com/fear_of_math.pdf
How to Make Solid Foundation of Math?
It may sound unusual
but scientific studies show that math skill, developed during kindergarten,
indicates whether the kid will be good in the math subject or not. Even before
(or during) the kindergarten days, parents are the first teacher of kids. It is
their duty to engage their kids in 'math games' or 'math puzzles'. Moreover,
understanding of spatial relationshionship at the early age also develops a
solid foundation of math skills in kids.
Project Math as a Solution of
Real-Life Issues
It is a harsh reality
that most of the math lessons start with some mysterious formula and boring
theorems, which eventually delivers the correct answer. The traditional way of teaching
math misses ‘motivating’ factors. Isn’t it a good idea to start the math lesson
with a graph (depicting local issues such as: electric consumption in the city
or number of baseball players in the city, etc.). Such graphs will make
students inquisitive and they will be motivated to learn the topic quickly.
Reference for Infographic: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Boring-Math-Fun
Exciting Math Learning and Teaching Ideas
The Dancing Decimal
During multiply, many
math students confuse or forget to apply decimal at the right place. The idea
of ‘dancing decimal’ may be effective. Teachers can exaggerate the method by
placing decimals randomly and posing questions to the students whether the
decimal is at the right place or not. The catching term ‘dancing decimal’ will
excite students and make the learning easy.
Challenge Your Students
Teachers usually
commence the new session with the review classes of previously learned lessons.
Why can’t they change their approach? One can find students quite excited in
the beginning of the new session. Teachers can use their excitement by teaching
or challenging them something unexpected, they have never imagined.
Technically, this type of approach is known as ‘front loading’.
Fractions and Cake Pieces
Isn’t it an exciting
idea to teach ‘multiplying fractions’ with the pieces of cakes? Teachers can
use 10 triangular shapes of cake pieces to represent one cake. They can offer
half cake to one of their favorite students and ask him or her to offer one fourth
of his or her share to another student. Now, teachers should ask their
students, “What portion of the cake did the 2nd student get?” Another
innovative method is illustrated here:
Median and Breaking of Ruler
Students may face
problems with the concept of median, mean, and mode. Teaching the said concept
with the help of 'ruler' may be an effective solution. Every students carry
ruler in their geometry box. 'Rulers' are not even very expensive. By breaking
it from the middle, you can create an enjoyable atmosphere and eloquently
explain them the concept of median, mean, and mode.
Writer’s Take
The most unfortunate
fact is most of the math teachers often fail to convince their students that
mathematics is not only unique, it is exciting as well. This is a challenge,
which needs psychological solutions, innovative teaching solutions, and
acceptance of mathematics in our families.
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