Motivating students to learn Math

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Math Teachers Chatboard

Motivating students to learn Math

by Sam

May 1, 2013

Dear Math teachers, As we know motivating students to learn Math can be often very challenging. We have all been there ...

Let's share our experience: what are the tricks/methods you use in your classroom to motivate your students?

Regards Sam

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Sam On 5/02/13, Tina/8th wrote: > I teach 3 90 min sections of grade level 8th grade math...kids > who are not ready for Algebra in 8th grade and for most...are > several years behind. > > I have found that most of my kids come from elementary schools > where they always worked in groups...they were given projects > to "find the an...See MoreOn 5/02/13, Tina/8th wrote: > I teach 3 90 min sections of grade level 8th grade math...kids > who are not ready for Algebra in 8th grade and for most...are > several years behind. > > I have found that most of my kids come from elementary schools > where they always worked in groups...they were given projects > to "find the answer" and "discover the rules" and stuff like that. > > While I think conceptual understanding is important, my kids > needed much more direct instruction than they ever got and > never really "got it". > > I am usually able to get most of them to grade level or close > to it and usually most grow several grades levels in the year > that they have me. Why? > > I teach them they way they need to be taught and do my best to > ignore the 9,000 new things that they district says we should > be doing to make them successful. I am pretty much left alone > by my admins because I produce results even if it isn't the way > they want it done. > > Success builds success. I start slow and steady. I make sure > that they are successful, whatever it takes. Then their > attitude about math starts to change. Before long, they like > math, they are surprised about the "best grades in math they > have ever had". Their parents are happy, so they keep working > because they want that to continue. > > I don't allow zeros. Everyone completes every assignment to the > best of the ability. (Or atleast that is my goal and sometimes > I get closer than others.) > > No one fails a test. We keep working on the concept and > retaking tests (yes I make many versions of tests) until they > get an acceptable grade. > > I build relationships with my kids. We can learn about slope > while we talk about their hunting trip. We can talk about Duck > Dynasty as we work on graphing linear equations. We have fun > even though I do work half to death and I have no problem > admitting either. > > If I can't get the job done in class, we find some supports. I > have two older gentlemen who come in and do tutoring for me. I > found them at my grandmom's senior center. Kids LOVE THEM! > > I do incentives...stuff like the class to do the best on the > test... everyone who earns at least an 80 on the test.... > > I have a sense of humor..I laugh with them. They are > kids..they are going to do and say dumb stuff. My line in the > sand is do NOT disrespect me or anyone in the class and do NOT > disrupt my instruction or anyone's work time. They know how > hard I work for them and for the most part, they stay on the > right side of the line. > > My kids need repetition. They hate it in the beginning but > after a while they understand that practice really does make > perfect or near perfect. > > I do NOT do home work. Long story why but the basic gist of it > is that I work them to death in class while I can watch what > they are doing and make sure they are practicing correctly. > Kids with poor math skills practice mistakes and then I need > more time to undo the mistakes plus most of my kids do not have > the parents at home to make sure it gets done and then it > becomes a battle of the wills between them and I as to "you > must do your homework" > > I do ALOT of error analysis and ALOT of remedation, anytime I > can fit it in. > > We are constantly revisiting old objectives. > > I think I have hit the highlights, if I can think of anything > else, Ill repost.

Dear Tina,

Thank you so much for sharing. Your post was so thorough and full of useful content for others to learn from. That’s why exactly I started this post and will continue to do so. See, no offense to Math teachers or teachers in general, but in my humble opinion, we don’t communicate that much. A post like yours can benefit so much other teachers as well as many parents. We are doing this on a daily basis and no one can help kids and parents like we do and sharing our experience is the best tool to make this process more efficient. If you would like to, I can share your content as a guest contributor, on my simple/humble blog about Math education. It’s totally up to you and this is just a suggestion. Obviously it will have your name or any other related information that you would like on it. The goal here is again: sharing and only sharing. Spreading the word. Nothing more and nothing less. Just making the process of helping kids more efficient. You can modify your writing before doing this if you would like to. You can find in below the link to the mentioned blog. I emphasize again, the purpose here is just to share useful tips for teachers and parents and hopefully make their lives easier. As a response to my suggestion (if you would like to respond), you can post or contact me at [email removed]

May 4, 2013

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Tina/8th Sam,

Please do not repost my post.

Thank you!

May 4, 2013

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Sam On 5/04/13, Tina/8th wrote: > Sam, > > Please do not repost my post. > > Thank you!

Sure no problem, I won't. Thank you

Kind Regards Sam

May 4, 2013

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Remind them, early and often that if they don't understand math, there are people already lining up to cheat them. You can bring in examples from the music or entertainment industries, certainly, or have them study some of the credit card applications that their parents get in the mail, or have them do a nutrients-per-dollar comparison of single-serving Pepsi versus a glass of...See More

May 5, 2013

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Mary Anne Thank for this post, Tina. I teach Algebra 2 Learning Support classes and experience the same gaps in student backgrounds, plus poor family support and lack of confidence in skills. I use all the same strategies. Unfortunately, I must prepare students for the Keystone exam 2x/year - but I convinced my dept that my students will show growth, not nec...See More