Math Learning Strategies Teachers Can Use Today
Math Learning Strategies
No one would deny the importance of teachers having a good, solid understanding of the content they need to get across to their students. This is especially important when teaching math, because many children can become very resistant to this subject if effective math learning strategies aren’t used. Here are some tips for math learning strategies that should make this a much more pleasant subject for kids to learn – and for teachers to teach.
Best Math Learning Strategies
One of the best math learning strategies could be called “the power of fun.” Math really can be fun if the teacher employs math games and puzzles that are visually appealing to children. And when teaching older children, using word problems written around topics that kids can relate to makes solving the problems much more interesting and challenging.
Other Math Learning Strategies
What about other math learning strategies? One great idea is to use learning tools such as flash cards, connect-the-dots pages, blocks and mazes. All of these get children to combine thinking with activities like speaking, coloring, and drawing. Physical actions often reinforce the mental concepts, and when kids can “feel” the fun of math, they’re bound to learn it more quickly.
Other math learning strategies can involve music. Just like many children learn their “ABCs” by singing the ABC song, they can learn songs to help them memorize their multiplication tables. Just do an internet search for “multiplication song” and you will find YouTube videos of all kinds of options for teaching kids, including a “3 Times Table” multiplication song for kids.
The television show Sesame Street pioneered the use of songs and stories to teach children how to read and do simple arithmetic. But songs and videos can be used to teach more advanced concepts in math and even geometry. On YouTube you can find videos on concepts like the radius and diameter of a circle and the concept of Pi. And you’ll find CDs and MP3 of math learning songs on Amazon and many other other sites.
But perhaps the most important math learning strategies are the simplest: keep it interesting and be enthusiastic! No teacher wants to admit they are boring, but if your heart isn’t in the subject, you’ll have a hard time making it interesting. But if you love math, love the pleasure of solving a puzzle or a problem, and most of all applaud your students when they learn something something new… students will love your classes, and they’ll love math, too!
