As a math teacher or instructor, you’re probably not new to hearing some students say that they’re not a math person. It’s one of the least liked, if not among the most feared, subjects in school.
While others claim to dislike the subject because of unpleasant experiences in the classroom or with the education system in the past, most of those saying that they’re not really into mathematics struggle with math for real. Simply put, they see learning the subject as a significant challenge because they find it confusing or hard to understand.
A strong foundation in mathematics is essential for all students to view the subject in a positive way, and teachers are a vital contributing factor to that. Teachers or instructors who know the correct approaches to use can help increase knowledge among students.
Fortunately, there are several proven strategies for teaching math to help raise students’ understanding and scores. Check out some of them below:
- Using Keywords
The primary reason many students struggle with mathematics is that they often don’t have a clear understanding of what the mathematical question they’re asked to answer is all about. It’s especially true for solving word problems. They get stuck as a result of not knowing what operation or equation to use.
One way to figure this out is to teach students how to pay attention to keywords and other relevant information that may give clues as to what the problem is looking for or how to approach it. As you know, math questions often contain extra information that tends to confuse most people.
It’s essential to note, though, that teaching keywords shouldn’t be seen as a primary strategy for solving math problems but rather only serve as a guide for students. Still, the most important thing is to help students understand the mathematical concept behind the question and its solution, which will be discussed in the latter part of this article.
Some examples of keywords are:
- Addition: altogether, combined, increase by
- Subtraction: take away, less than, decreased by
- Multiplication: per, twice, triple
- Division: the amount of each, each gets, equal parts
Note that keywords aren’t only applicable to basic mathematical operations, but they also help answer questions on more complex math concepts, such as negative and positive equations. You can discover more here the different terms and keywords to keep in mind about exponents. Of course, you can also check out other resources that tackle other more challenging topics.
- Encouraging More Discussion
Discussion is important in the classroom. It’s especially true when the subject taught is mathematics. Math teachers shouldn’t do all the talking in front while letting students just sit quietly for the entire duration of the class. As an instructor, you have to be explicit and focus on making the students realize that they can learn better by sharing their ideas with their classmates and to you, as well as by listening to one another. Building on their ideas and setting aside your own will help learners feel that their thoughts are important, not to mention it’ll make them think that they’re not being judged for their mistakes.
Here are two ways you can encourage a more productive discussion in the classroom when teaching mathematics:
- Give students Individual Think Time (ITT). In doing so, students will have the opportunity to think about a mathematical concept and work on it privately before discussing their ideas with a designated partner, with you, or in front of the whole class. This technique increases the students’ quantity and quality of mathematical thinking and communication by allowing them time and space to gather their thoughts and questions to make sense of the topic being thrown at them.
- Use the 4 Rs: Repeat, Rephrase, Reword, and Record to make the students more attentive when listening to their peers. It helps them in processing and refining mathematical ideas and language.
The 4 Rs work like this: The teacher chooses which of the Rs to use first, depending on how the discussion in the classroom runs. For example, you can have as many students as you want to repeat what was said by one of their peers as a response to your question if you think that not everyone heard or understood it. Then, if you believe that they need time to process the concept because it’s an important math idea, select a few to rephrase what they heard using different words or any other specific language that the students prefer to express their thoughts more precisely. Finally, tell them to record the ideas they’ve heard and their own so that they can remember or process key concepts better by seeing and referencing them.
- Prioritizing Conceptual Understanding
This strategy is all about encouraging students to see the bigger framework. They’re not just taught how to solve problems or answer questions but also the explanation for every operation, equation, or solution applied. Making sure that students have a conceptual understanding of math topics helps ensure that they can apply what they know and use their skills in different situations, no matter how the problem is being presented.
Ways to prioritize conceptual understanding when teaching math include:
- Implementing schema-based instruction: Using the schema approach is all about teaching students how to identify patterns, which they can use to determine the correct strategy for solving the problem at hand. It’s perfect for students who struggle with recognizing relationships and patterns in new situations. There’s a study that shows using schema-based instruction enables students to solve both familiar and new problems better.
- Making a concept visual: Students tend to solve problems more successfully when visual representations are applied. It’s especially true when teachers use virtual learning technology. That’s because visual strategies can remove barriers, especially one relating to language, for students who think and learn differently. It helps them understand abstract math concepts better.
- Giving explicit instructions: Explicitly teaching something means modeling the learning process so clearly that learners don’t need to guess their next steps. It’s best to perform this strategy with cumulative practice because it keeps old skills and knowledge fresh in students’ minds. For those who struggle with working memory, that’s a significant help.
Final Thoughts
Teachers and instructors can move the needle on every student’s math achievement when empowered with effective teaching strategies. If you want to see your students learn better, use keywords, encourage more discussion, as well as prioritize conceptual understanding.
You’ll realize – once you start applying the strategies mentioned and discussed above – that what supports individuals who struggle with mathematics also helps them learn more about other subjects.