11 Ways to be a Great Math Teacher

Teaching is one of the most satisfying jobs. Various subjects can be taught, but math requires an effective and efficient teaching style. Becoming a great math teacher is not everyone’s cup of tea. The qualities of a great math teacher include effective communication, collaboration, listening, empathy, adaptability, and patience. 

Some other features of effective math teaching instruction can include an intriguing classroom presence, a great value of learning in the real world, experiencing different practices, and so on. This article will discuss some of the practical teaching styles teachers worldwide can follow to be great math teachers.

11 Ways to be a Great Math Teacher:

1. Setting Realistic Standards 

Teachers must understand that growth is usually promoted best amongst students when there are realistic and achievable standards.

It is observed that most of the girls have internalized the thought that the subject of math is not for them.

It becomes very tough for the teachers to work on this socially accepted idea. Not every student is born with gifted math skills. 

So, teachers must encourage such kids by saying that any student who works hard can succeed. The teachers must stimulate the growth mindset of students.

Math teachers should adopt the philosophy of practice and persistence and teach students that anyone who works hard can get good at math. Math teachers need to acknowledge students’ needs, spread the power of mathematics, and generate interest in the students. 

2. Explain Concepts Clearly

While planning your lesson, fix important lessons and ensure students master these concepts with different problems.

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3. Conduct Assessments Frequently

One great way to check students’ understanding levels is to conduct assessments frequently.

Teachers should emphasize taking tests on the concepts taught in the classroom.

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You can organize weekly and monthly tests to assess the performance of students.

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4. Model Your Teaching

Use different techniques of demonstration while introducing new concepts. It becomes very much easier for the students to understand the concepts.

Visual learning is one of the best ways of learning as it increases the retaining capacity of the kids. In many classrooms, teachers use blackboards to display the math unit and continue teaching.

A proper understanding of the concepts makes students easily solve complex problems.

5. Emphasize on Teamwork

Dividing the class into several teams and assigning them projects is a good teaching strategy.

Most students like studying and working in groups with their friends. Teachers can promote teamwork by giving group math assignments to the students.

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For example, assigning different projects to the students while giving a project regarding critical mathematical theories. 

One group can research Pythagoras’ theorem while the other group can work on the topic of the binomial theorem.

The teachers must make sure to pair weak students with strong ones, which would help the former students learn faster from their peers. 

6. Encourage Experiential Learning

We can all agree that most of the time students learn outside the classroom than within the four confined walls.

Stepping into the real world creates a new environment where students can learn a lot. Teachers can help the students to understand the world outside their classroom. 

Learning about the applications of trigonometry, geometry, relations, functions, etc., by stepping outside the classroom can make students fall in love with math.

Some trips outside the real classroom can provide valuable experience to students, which will boost their self-confidence and encourage them. After learning so much from the outside world, students would start relating the concepts taught in the class to the real world. 

7. Let The Students Teach

Make the students teach in the class, as teaching demands vital preparation and deep knowledge about the coursework.

The teachers can allot such tasks to students individually to encourage their self-confidence.

The main aim of this strategy is to let the students expand their knowledge and share them with their friends simultaneously. 

To ensure that the students teach other students correctly, the teachers must devote more time to fully comprehending the assignment.

If the students find it difficult to understand certain concepts, in such cases, students should be encouraged to raise questions for better understanding.

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8. Emphasize Behavior Management

Behavior management plays an essential role in being a good teacher. Many teaching strategies provide teachers with a structure related to teaching a class but do not emphasize how to control classroom behavior. 

9. Implement Inquiry-based Learning

Inquiry-based learning is a great technique that can be used to appeal to the curiosity of the students. Implementing such a strategy in the classroom will allow the students to look for questions of their interest. Discovering such questions in an educational setting is an exciting activity. Firstly, let students decide on a topic of interest upon which they need to conduct research and prepare a presentation for the class. 

The teacher can provide help or support by suggesting online research sources to the students.

There are several exciting math research topics available on the internet that students can use. After completing the presentation, the students must be tasked with reflecting on that project as a whole.

Ask them to evaluate what went well and didn’t, and raise questions to clarify their doubts. It helps students to become independent and confident learners, which can in turn help them succeed in their careers. 

10. Integrate Technology Into Your Classroom

Technology is probably the most powerful instrument one can have at their disposal. It is a crucial part of modern jobs and helpful in education. Computers, laptops, and tablets provide students with ways to promote lesson plans and online educational activities.

There are multiple free printables and worksheets which you can access easily. 

Try looking up educational videos or make your students play free math games on the internet. Students will immensely enjoy their time with these gadgets, generating a solid understanding of the classwork.

The teachers can use the primary resources they have at their disposal and to their advantage to make a more engaged and motivated group of students. 

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11. Prioritize Practice

Unlike other subjects, mathematics requires a lot of practice. Along with solving various questions in the class, teachers can assign various questions to the students as homework.

Practice questions are available here!

When students practice different questions on a particular topic, they understand the complexities of the topic and thus gain a lot of confidence in the subject. 

Also read: 12 Ways Math Teachers Can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students

Takeaway 

Mathematics might probably not be the most liked subject amongst students. However, math teachers need to ensure that students perform well to the best of their ability in the subject. The above strategies or methods can help teachers to make math instruction fun and interesting. If you are looking to make math more fun and interesting for your students, visit www.bytelearn.com to know more.