Teaching math skills require patience, focus, and dedication from both the teacher and the student. This can be especially difficult when teaching basic math skills as it is often the foundation for more complex mathematical concepts.
It is therefore vital to ensure that basic math skills are taught in an effective and engaging manner to ensure students of all ages will retain the information they are being taught. In this article, we discuss 13 strategies on how to teach basic math skills.
1. Establish Clear Goals
Before starting any lesson, a teacher must ascertain what goals they strive to achieve and the expected outcomes of the lesson. This includes setting expectations, identifying prerequisites, formulating milestones, and understanding the students level of ability.
By having clearly defined goals, it is easier to build a lesson plan that caters to the students, helping them to achieve better results.
2. Use Manipulatives
Using hands-on manipulatives, such as pattern blocks and linking cubes, can help create powerful connections between visuals and an abstract concept, catching the attention and engaging the student. This works especially well for younger students with short concentration spans, allowing them to develop a more intuitive understanding of mathematics, thereby establishing more solid foundations for more complex concepts later.
3. Identify Students Strengths and Weaknesses
It is important for the teacher to identify the students’ strengths and weaknesses in order to ensure the lessons progress along the right track. Identifying a student’s weaknesses is not to humiliate the student or make them feel inadequate, but rather to provide them with the assistance they need in order to make further progress.
Doing so can also give the teacher a better understanding of where their lessons need to be tailored to meet the student’s individual needs, allowing each student to thrive.
4. Use Real-World Examples
Using examples from the real-world can help students create visualizations of how mathematical concepts can be applied or put into play in real life, creating a more practical understanding of mathematics. Examples could include things like creating a budget or calculating the percentage discount on a sale item.
5. Make Use of Technology
The use of technology can be beneficial when teaching, particularly when it comes to basic math skills. Leveraging technology, such as using online calculators or apps, can help students recognize patterns and connections while saving time and increasing accuracy. For example, students can use the app ‘Mathometer’ to solve and track math problems, allowing them to better understand math equations.
6. Linking to Previous Lessons
Connecting new concepts to prior lessons is a great way to help students remember what they have been taught before. This helps reduce the amount of time needed to introduce a new concept as it allows them to more easily recall and apply what they already know to the new problem.
7. Emphasize Visualization
The use of diagrams and charts helps to break complex concepts into smaller, more manageable pieces. Demonstrating how individual calculations are used to reach a solution can make math more fun and engaging.
For instance, using a bar graph to demonstrate line equations or using manipulatives to show fractions.
8. Allow Time For Mastery
In order to ensure students gain mastery of the material, it is important to give students time to practice. Using quizzes or quizzing students regularly can test understanding and improve retention.
Additionally, creating puzzles or word problems geared toward their level give students the ability to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
9. Make It Fun
Making math fun can help to increase motivation and reduce the stress associated with math. Games and activities such as playing ‘Guess My Number’ or finding answers by engaging in conversations can make math more enjoyable for students, helping them to stay engaged and motivated.
10. Use Different Teaching Methods
No two students learn in the same way, so it’s important for the teacher to use different teaching methods. A variety of methods, such as group work, scavenger hunts, theatrical activities, and other hands-on activities, not only helps to retain more information but also helps keep the student more engaged and motivated.
11. Ask Open-Ended Questions
Asking questions helps guide the student’s understanding of the material, but it is important to avoid yes/no questions or questions requiring a single word response. Instead, open-ended questions should be used as they encourage the student to explain their thought process, helping the teacher understand their line of thinking.
12. Encourage Collaboration
Working together in a team can help students learn better as they get to share ideas, knowledge, and resources. This helps them to understand the material from various perspectives, from which they can build a more comprehensive understanding.
13. Give Praise and Positive Feedback
Giving positive reinforcement encourages students to believe in themselves and to become more confident in their math skills. Through positive feedback, the teacher can boost the student’s self-esteem and confidence, allowing them to use the skills they have learned more effectively, allowing them to make more significant progress.
Conclusion
Teaching basic math skills requires dedication, patience, and the right attitude. By utilizing the strategies outlined above, teachers can ensure their students gain the knowledge and skills they need to progress, setting firm foundations for more complex mathematical concepts.