Universal secondary education is the norm in most parts of the world with most students graduating from high school. Most students will continue to study mathematics in some form until the end of their secondary education.
This means that the mathematics teacher should have an expanded pool of teachers to use in the classroom to cater to the different learning styles of all the students of the school as suggested by Gardner’s multiple intelligences. This article will outline several types of teachers that can be used successfully in a math class.
Let me start by saying that the “chalk and talk”/teacher lecture has its place in the pedagogical educator along with doing the exercises.
The important issue is to keep students engaged in learning mathematics by making it relevant to life wherever possible. The new curricula contain new topics that relate well to real-life situations.
There are many strategies a teacher may use to engage students but they must be tailored to the topic being taught.
Here are some ideas:
- teaching team. Different teachers approach topics from different angles unconsciously, giving students a broader view of the topic. Sometimes another teacher may have expertise in the topic under investigation.
- A guest speaker adds a real dimension to the topic under discussion.
- A computer lesson using software, especially with functions, often reduces the time for students to form an understanding of the subject;
- Online lesson.
- research in the library, especially on a new topic;
- a trip
- Hands-on lessons.
- conduct a survey as part of a statistics unit;
- film, video or DVD lesson;
- An exam is a great way to review especially if there is a competitive element to it.
- Prepare a revision program to help teach students how to prepare for an exam.
- Practice exam with review.
- Problem-solving exercises are fun, sharp, and regular
- Play on words to teach students to think “outside the box”.
- Evaluation that reflects the educational teacher.
Incorporating a different teaching teacher into the lesson increases interest and keeps students engaged in the search for the next episode in the lesson. There is little chance that the students or the teacher will get bored with the lesson or get distracted.