Math is one subject that has had negative feedback because people
tend to describe it as difficult and hard to learn. Teaching elementary
math with ease is very challenging for any teacher but quite rewarding
when you see your students enjoying math and working on their math
projects with ease.
As a teacher you need to be innovative and open to new techniques to be able to make your students appreciate math. Here are some tips on how you can teach math with ease:
As a teacher you need to be innovative and open to new techniques to be able to make your students appreciate math. Here are some tips on how you can teach math with ease:
- Fun. Invent math games that will not only spark the interest of your students but will also make them enjoy playing these games. You can create games using common items such as crayons, chairs, pencils, books and toys.
- Counting. The most basic math concept that kids should learn is counting. Teach them the ability to count and the skill to identify numbers and symbols. Without this knowledge it will be hard for them to understand math at all. Equipping them with this ability will prepare them for the four basic math operations: addition, multiplication, subtraction and division.
- Addition. The concept of addition is the first of four math operations that children have to learn and being able to properly teach them the concept will provide them encouragement and the skill to move forward and still find math easy to learn. You can start by adding 1 to a number to generate the next number before going into adding one digit numbers. When the kids have mastered addition with one-digit numbers then you can move on with the one-digit and two-digit numbers combination until you can move on to multiple digits. Keep their interest by giving them competitive addition worksheets.
- Multiplication. To teach multiplication you need to start by teaching them as addition. To show them how to get the product of 2 * 3 = 2+2+2 = 6 or 2 * 3 = 3 + 3 = 6. Once the kids get the concept of adding same numbers to get a product they will be able to move on to larger numbers. Of course, it would not hurt to have them memorize the multiplication tables but it will also be helpful to teach them some tricks (finger trick for the 9 times table) to make memorizing fun for them.
- Subtraction. Be sure that they have already mastered their addition before going into subtraction. The easiest way to teach subtraction is by doing it in addition so that your students will be able to discover the concept of problem solving. You can ask them how for missing parts of an addition equation, such as 5 + __?__ = 8. You can give them word problems to solve depicting situations at home or in school. You can also make a supermarket game so that they would know how to compute for change.
- Division. When you taught subtraction you used addition to clearly emphasize the missing quantities, so in teaching division you should also make use of multiplication. You can also make use of food to show the concept like having a bag of cookies and asking them to divide the cookies among themselves. Aside from teaching them division you are also teaching them the value of sharing.
- Patterns. Teaching patterns will be fun for kids because it will spark their curiosity and interest. The easiest way to teach patterns is through the use of simple sequences, the Fibonacci sequence and on to more complicated patterns. Providing your students with this skill will surely help improve their IQ and prepare them for the future.
- Advance knowledge. When your students are ready for it you can teach them advance concepts in algebra, geometry and logic. This will better prepare them for when they get to high school and college.
Teaching elementary math properly will help kids build a strong math foundation. Find more ways of teaching elementary math properly and with fun by clicking on the links here.
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