Encouraging Curiosity in Math Term Paper

Traditionally, math is considered to be a very difficult subject for students to learn. However, often the problem is not the subject but rather the inability of a teacher to encourage students to learn math. In fact, one of the major goals of a teacher is to evoke a genuine interest of students to math. It proves beyond a doubt that it is possible to make any subject boring and dull, and it is up to the teacher to make the subject interesting and encourage students to learn it. In this regard, math is not an exception.

Basically, it is possible to use different strategies to encourage students to learn math. First of all, it is possible to focus on the use of practical examples and demonstrations which can evoke a strong interest in children and encourage them to learn it. It is obvious that students will be interested in learning math if they see how to implement the material they learn in practice. In other words, students should understand that math is not an abstract science but it has practical applications. Hence, it will be easier for them to learn that will encourage them to learn math.

Depending on the age of students it is possible to use different strategies. For instance, for young learners the game is a natural form of learning. Therefore, a teacher should use games while teaching math. In such a way, students will not only better understand and easier perceive the learning material, but they will also learning math. The latter is very important for encouragement of students to learn math because they are more readily learn subjects which they are sincerely interested in. If once they have had a pleasant experience, they would like to experience it over and over again and the task of a teacher is to keep using games in young learners classroom to keep them really motivated and encouraged.

At the same time, there are some strategies which can be applied universally. In this respect, it is worth mentioning the careful use of questions and prompts. As it has been already mentioned above, math is a difficult subject to learn for many students. Consequently, many students are uncertain and afraid to make errors while solving problems, for instance. In such a situation, a teacher needs to ease the psychological pressure on students and encourage them work at their best. For this purpose, the use of questions and prompts, such as “what have you found out so far?”, or “Do you notice anything?”, “What if”¦?”, “What can you try next?” and others, do not only encourage students but also stimulate their creative thinking, for a teacher encourages their explorative activities in the field of mathematics. At this point, it is very important to treat children as equal, as if a teacher and students are doing the common work, while solving a problem and each student can give the correct answer.

Finally, it is possible to sue modeling behavior strategy, when a teacher gives students a positive model of behavior. What is meant here is the fact that a teacher should be curious, intrigued, wanting to find out more, encouraged. In such a way, students see the genuine interest to math in their teacher and they also grow interested in the subject as well.

Thus, the use of the aforementioned strategies can help educators to encourage students to learn math.



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