In order for our students to succeed in math, we must first help them feel comfortable with math. Below are ten techniques that teachers can use to help their students feel comfortable with math:
1. Encourage students to ask for help and be open to answering their questions. Students will be more willing to ask for assistance if their teachers are willing to assist them. Be patient when assisting students and never make them feel ashamed for asking for help.
2. Create a math-friendly environment. Incorporate math into all areas of the classroom to familiarize students with numbers and operations. Hang math posters on the walls, stock the block center with blocks in geometric shapes, and provide math-related literature in the reading center.
3. Plan engaging activities and lessons that make math fun. Math does not have to and should not be tedious. Ditch the worksheets and engage children in interactive activities to ignite their interest in math.
4. Use a hands-on approach to teaching math. Children learn best by doing, so provide interactive materials and plan lessons that involve the use of these materials. Materials such as measuring tools, pattern blocks, place value blocks, plastic or real coins, and Unifix cubes, enhance math skills.
5. Use real-life situations when teaching math to help students make real-life connections. Ask students to solve word problems to encourage them to practice their math skills outside of the classroom, whether it is helping their parents measure ingredients for a recipe or counting change at the store.
6. Encourage parental involvement. It is important for a child's parents and teachers to be on the same page about his or her progress so he or she can receive the proper support at home and in the classroom. When parents know how and what their children are doing in school, they can provide them the resources for success at home, and when teachers know how and what their students are doing at home, they can provide them the resources for success in the classroom.
7. Accommodate each student's individual learning style. Each child learns at a different pace and in a different manner. As a teacher, you will have students of various developmental levels and needs. It is important to consider all of your students' academic needs when teaching math. Use verbal, visual, and kinesthetic methods when teaching math to ensure that all of your students understand the material, regardless of their learning style.
8. Allow your students to work alone, as a class, and in small groups. When working alone, children can practice skills on their own and work at their own pace and in their own manner. In groups, children can learn from their classmates and their teachers and collaborate to solve problems. Both are important in learning math.
9. Practice makes perfect. Review the material on a regular basis to help students become proficient in math. Encourage students to practice their math skills throughout the day, whether it is counting the number of beats in a song during music time or measuring the height of a block tower built during recess.
10. Finally, make yourself comfortable with math. As a teacher, you are a role model to your students. The more comfortable you are with math, the more comfortable your students will be with math. Adopt a positive attitude about math and your students do the same. If you have confidence in your abilities, your students will have confidence in their abilities.
Teachers: how do you help your students feel comfortable with math?
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