How can I get my students involved in learning their math?
Math Help
I’m about to start student-teaching pre-algebra to high school students. It is first thing in the morning and they don’t want to be there. They never do their homework and try to avoid all classwork. They are never excited about math. How can I get them involved and make it interesting? Right now, they’re learning how to simplify fractions.
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I’m about to start student-teaching pre-algebra to high school students. It is first thing in the morning and they don’t want to be there. They never do their homework and try to avoid all classwork. They are never excited about math. How can I get them involved and make it interesting? Right now, they’re learning how to simplify fractions.
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Tags: Learning Math, Pre Algebra, Student Teaching
May 6th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
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make math not so boring
May 9th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
As A high school student, I personally think that you should make it more fun for them. We like laid-back teachers more. Don’t be strict and mean especially early in the morning because that makes us not want to be there even more. Try finding math games and things. I remember when I was in pre-algebra, my teacher had these grid things. You had to solve problems to get the points to plot on the grid, and when you were done it would make somehting like bugs bunny. And when we were doing Area and such of different shapes, we actually made 3-d models of the shapes and a cool little book to remeber the formulas.
May 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
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if they are still in pre algebra at high school level, it means they flunked.( They should at LEAST be on algebra1. Most should be on geometry 1st year of hs.)If they flunked, it means that they did not pay attention to the original class they went to. Im sorry but for students like that, there is nothing much u can. Remeber, only a F would be able to make someone flunk the class. A D- is passing. If someone had recieved a F, it means they did not try at all. Because if so, most or all teachers would give the person a D for trying. To make sure they do not come back to ur class next year, just give them Ds and be done with it. Im sry if i sound cynical….Im also a high school student actually, tho, so u could say i know their minds. Of course, there may be some that actually wants to learn but just did not get it. You should focus on helping those. For the rest, well…good luck and try ur best…..
hope this helps….
May 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
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Math is a horrible subject! I am biased because
I hate Math with a passion. What you need to do
is relate Math as much as possible to real life
situations. Trying to make Math fun is difficult, but
try to be hands on. I feel for you. Good luck….
May 12th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
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I’m a teacher. Be strict right away. Who cares if it’s early in the morning. They will not talk when you are teaching, they will sit down, not sharpen their pencil during class and will not bring food or drink into the room (especiall a problem at schools that serve breakfast). If you give an inch they will take 10 feet.
Laid back teachers are laid back because the students know that if they mess with that teacher, they’ll be in trouble. Have dentention slips ready to go on your desk and use them. First, if they talk, move those students to the front of the room. That will be their warning. After that, detention. When they know the limits, they’ll behave.
The students will be excited if you are excited about math. I teach social studies and my excitement makes the class work. Try to apply the math to a relatively common situation, personalizing the material makes it matter.
Hope this helps, and like I said, don’t be laid back until they can keep their yappers shut without you telling them to do so, it’s makes teaching much easier and less frustrating.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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Start to apply the math. Of course, you’ll need to see what their interests are. But, show that computer programming is just math–predominately algebra. Maybe show them a video review of the computer game Civilization 4, and then peruse through the source code (which is available for free on the web), and show some examples of algebra in there.
Or, draw up a Rube-Goldberg type contraption on the whiteboard, and solve it as a class. You can set up all the physics, and then let your students do all the algebra, step-by-step as you guide them through the problem. Better yet, have your students help you to draw the contraption.
Maybe have a motivated architect, or student of architecture come in and try to inspire them. Or, tell them how a telescope works (although that’s mostly geometry and trigonometry).
Edit: Ooh! I thought of another one! Maybe put them into groups, and give each group a map. You could have a dozen possible locations for the “buried treasure”, but then have compass directions that will tell them how to get to the correct one. Don’t let them use protractors, only rulers (for distance), but give them easy angles, like 90 degrees east. Of course, they will have to determine how far 90 degrees is, which they can do by simplifying the fraction 90/360 = 1/4. Now, they’re simplifying fractions visually, and they’re beginning to deal with vectors. If you’re really slick, you could even slip in a bit about the unit circle (covertly, of course). Then, maybe talk about how this is used in ship navigation, or even show a quick documentary about navigation, or vectors, or something. You could even scale the distances, so they have to deal with ratios, too.
Hopefully this will spark their interest at least a little. Granted, you don’t want to teach them computer science or physics (which is what I tutor), but I think it helps them to see the light at the end of the tunnel a little bit.
You might also consider changing your homework some. If the students aren’t doing their homework anyways, then even just playing card games (particularly ones where they have to count), or looking for applications of math in the real-world would be more beneficial than just watching TV. Don’t make homework an extension of schoolwork–that’s no fun, so they won’t do it; no, instead make homework fun, so that they want to do it. It probably won’t be as beneficial as if they’d actually do the homework, but it will certainly be more beneficial than not doing their homework at all.
Good luck! It’s refreshing to hear from teachers who seem to care so much for their students.
May 16th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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Play a short game at the beginning of class to get their attention and promise a little free time at the end of class if they all pay attention and do their work! It sounds like bribery, but tough classes call for tough solutions!
May 18th, 2009 at 5:48 am
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Pre-Algebra is a middle school course, so obviously you have “drop-out prevention” type students. I suggest you get down to the nitty gritty and don’t spend too long on the boring stuff. I teach Pre-Algebra to an 8th grade class (very low) level and I teach them what they need to know to pass. That’s all they are interested in, anyway. I work a lot of the problems in their assignment with them as a group. And, mine love to take turns working their problems on the overhead projector. I never take my attention away from them while they are in the room. And, do you really have to give them homework? You have to pick your battles.