| For a great number of students, mathematics creates | | | | life, and helping children understand how math affects |
| an overload of anxiety. And many children dismiss | | | | their daily routines also helps to make them understand |
| math as a subject that they will have no use for in the | | | | why math is necessary. For instance, create a math |
| "real world". As an educator, you know that it is | | | | problem for subtraction by having the students to |
| important for your students to develop strong math | | | | count the minutes left on your classroom clock before |
| skills, but you likely find it difficult to motivate your | | | | lunch, or ask them to multiply the number of boys in the |
| students to learn math. The tips that follow will lighten | | | | class by the number of girls. This can help to reinforce |
| the load for teachers as they help their students tackle | | | | the necessity of math and how it can apply to the real |
| the math monster and overcome their apprehension of | | | | life. |
| math in general. | | | | Make Math Fun |
| Stay Positive | | | | Kids learn more effectively when they are enjoying |
| Are you anxious about your own math skills? Are you | | | | themselves, so making math fun is important. Create |
| worried that you cannot present math lessons | | | | worksheets and games that will add a fun element to |
| properly? Many people are, and a lot of professionals | | | | each math unit. Games can be played with flash cards |
| were poor students in math themselves. Now that you | | | | that allow kids to use math skills they are currently |
| are teaching math, you must keep a positive outlook | | | | learning, or you can create a "Jeopardy" type game |
| on the subject as children can pick up on your | | | | where students compete against one another to solve |
| emotions and learn your secret. Remember that is | | | | problems. Computer games also provide effective |
| your students give up on their ability to do math now, | | | | means for teaching math skills. |
| they may miss some of the rudimentary basic skills | | | | Get Parents Involved |
| that they need to do more advanced math later on in | | | | You will find that involving parents in the learning |
| life. | | | | process and maintaining communication with parents |
| Ensure Understanding | | | | about each student's progress in math will help |
| Understanding math is challenging, and this is especially | | | | motivate the student to achieve. Identifying any math |
| true for young children. If a student is struggling with a | | | | problems and working with them to make sure |
| homework assignment or worksheet, ask the student | | | | homework is completed will go a long way towards |
| to explain the assignment to you, or to explain how to | | | | helping the student meet the goals that are set for |
| complete a particular problem; this helps you to gauge | | | | their grade level. Don't be surprised to find out that |
| their understanding on particular concepts so that you | | | | many parents are insecure in their own abilities to do |
| will know how to better help them. | | | | math as well. These students may need extra |
| Exploring Math in Daily Life | | | | classroom help to make up for the help they cannot |
| It is easy for you to incorporate math into your daily | | | | receive at home. |