Mathematics has always been a nightmare for most students. It is never an interesting subject for them especially for those who find numbers as mind-numbing and irrelevant to their lives. Many of us have struggled to find ease with mathematics but even at the stage of being a college graduate, the dilemma with quantities and figures still haunt our thoughts. Since our very first step in school, the shadow of mathematics had combined with ours that everywhere we go, there is math. Through the years, statistics show that more and more students are having trouble with numbers and are losing boost and excitement attending classes especially when the subject is math. This became a very tough challenge for teachers. How can they change the idea that math is a difficult and boring subject? Well, that’s pretty puzzling for them but there’s a possible way for sure.
Grade school pupils are thought with the fundamentals of mathematics which
would further be developed in secondary schools. Upon entering college,
students are expected to have those knowledge in preparation to their chosen
program and for the quest to their dreams. But it is still inevitable that
college students would be having trouble with math especially with higher degree
of calculations and problem solving. A classroom is never a venue for learning
if the teacher does not know how to handle the idle and tedious mind of his/her
students towards the subject. More than half of the class would most likely
avoid and study mathematics but a good teacher can change everything, starting
from the setting of mood of the students to a smooth and lively discussion of
the subject. George Polya (1962) formulated the ten commandments for a good
college mathematics teaching:
- Be interested in your subject.
- Know your subject.
- Know about the ways of learning: The best way to learn anything is to discover it by yourself.
- Try to read the faces of your students, try to see their expectations and difficulties, put yourself in their place.
- Give them not only information, but know-how attitudes of mind, the habit of methodical work.
- Let them learn guessing.
- Let them learn proving.
- Look out for such features of the problem at hand as may be useful in solving problems to come. Try to disclose the general pattern that lies behind the present concrete situation.
- Do not give away your whole secret at once. Let the students guess before you tell it. Let them find out by themselves as much as feasible.
- Suggest it; do not force it down their throats.
Polya
had made good points in his ten commandments which he further summarized into
two basic rules of teaching. According to him,
While these things primarily concern the flow of teaching and learning
inside the classroom, Stacy Zeiger listed the five
characteristics that good mathematics teacher should possess.
- Knowledge of Mathematics - According to Zeiger, a successful math teacher has a wide-range of knowledge in algebra, calculus, statistics, geometry and other areas of mathematics which could help him/her to assertively explain and discuss the subject to his/her students.
- Teaching Strategies - Zeiger emphasizes that a good math teacher is creative when it imparting his/her knowledge to students. Students learn in different way and a flexible mind would definitely be a great advantage for him/her.
- Approach - Students should not see a teacher as a mere teacher but a rather an amicable facilitator. He/She explains the concepts in a friendly and smooth way which boosts student’s active participation towards the subject.
- Leadership - A skilled teacher uses his/her authority inside the classroom fairly and just. He /She has control over the whole class and earns respect not only because of his/her knowledge in mathematics but also because of his/her actions.
- Care and Concern - According to Zeiger, a good teacher knows some background about his/her students and understands their situation. He/She finds time to talk with those having trouble and problem with the subject and gives consideration and second chances for them to cope up and improve their learnings.
Being a teacher is never an easy job. It requires a lot of patience and
hard work in making your students love the subject. Not everyone likes math but a
good teacher can change everything. He/She has the power to make the class a
place of thrill excitement. Just like what Suzanne Fields said, “Great teachers
transcend ideology.”
