TEACHING AND LEARNING MATHEMATICS

Learning Mathematics create an anxiety among learners because of this stigma that it is the most difficult subject to learn. Few learners appreciate Math. I am one of them. I remember then when it is time for me to learn Math, I get dizzy, uncomfortable and day dream about going home.

It was never my favorite subject. Does it has something to do with the subject itself or it is the other way around? But I was tasked to teach it. Ironically, out of all the subjects that I teach in the primary education, I find the said subject very fascinating to teach.

I found myself in an irony of not having it as a favorite subject during my school days and find it exciting to teach in my teaching days. What really made me unliking Math? Is is the thought of it as the most difficult subject? Or just the thinking of I will never be able to learn it? I asked myself, what did my teacher do then when I almost failed the subject? Is she able to observe my difficulty and find ways to address this problem? Is it really the subject, the teacher or the attitude of the students towards learning the subject?

At this point of time, it is a matter of having both on the same boat. It is the attitude of the child towards learning and most importantly the attitude of the teacher towards teaching the subject. The only remedy to this problem is the challenge on the part of the teacher to develop an atmosphere that acknowledges the fear to learn the difficult subject, reverse the idea that it is difficult and craft ways on how to make it simple for the students to learn it. Know the learners well. Design your teaching styles appropriately to their learning styles. Having such mind set among teachers will change how learners perceive Mathematics. — oOo— The author is Teacher III at Malpitic Integrated School-Division of City of San Fernando