For few children, math skills come naturally. For others mathematics is tough and boring. There are different approaches that can make math classes fun, exciting, and easy to learn.
Do children find mathematics boring? Do children hate mathematics? Do children dread mathematics? The attitude of children to Mathematics will completely change if parents and teachers can show children that Mathematics is not Mathematics but Mathemagics.
Most children are not fond of mathematics. Mathematics is boring simply because children find it hard to understand. Mathematics means solving problems – but learning mathematics itself is becoming a problem. Mathematics is great fun and students can really enjoy playing number games if mathematics is taught differently.
Teachers must help children who struggle with mathematics lessons. The best way to support a child’s learning of mathematics is to have fun with numbers. Children should know mathematics is not abstract but has a role in daily life. Here are few practical tips:
- Mathematics classes can be fun-filled and exciting. At the end of every math class, raise a simple mental arithmetic problem or a number puzzle for the children to work on overnight. Motivate children who come with the right answers the next day. Children will begin to eagerly await math class.
- Choose one day a week to play math games in class. Memory power is important to develop math skills. Weekly math games help students exercise their brains too.
- The game winners can be awarded small gifts.
- Display in the classroom a small bulletin board to write out a Weekly Math Challenge Test. Keep posting a new mathematical puzzle in that space every week. Observe carefully the number of students solving these puzzles. For that matter, you can keep a track of students solving puzzles in the weekly challenges and the weekly winners can be given some special marks. If it turns out that a particular Math Challenge Test is too hard, offer more clues or hints to help students so they do not lose interest.
- Do not impose some math formula or methods on the children- but instead provide them a lead and then let them come out with their own suggestions and opinions. Make the math class interactive and thus entertaining. This way, the teacher teaches less and the children excitedly learn more from one another.
- Think of several novel ways of teaching math and experiment different methods in each class. Variety is fun and children will also become curious and eagerly wait to know what will happen in the next class.
- It is essential that the teacher enjoys math. The math teacher must prepare lessons with imagination and make them appealing. Encourage a spirit of healthy competition among children by having games in the classroom to teach new math skills.
- There are a number of web resources active today in guiding parents and teacher about math learning tips and tricks.