Students success in math begins with the teacher.

Math is hard for so many. Not all but many students struggle. I personally think a teacher can turn a students away from the subject or towards it, espcially in the very formative years of middle school. We have to help our kids succeed in the subject and encourange them when they do so that we do not turn them off from the subject. Here are four things that in my opinion set apart successful math teachers;

1. Plan sequentially and in an organized manner.

2. Set clear objective and goals.

3. Make the lessons fun.

4. Encourage your students.

Organization is key to being a sucessful teacher. Each lesson you teach needs to flow naturally from the previous lesson you taught the day before. This is important since this allows the student to bridge the gaps between topics. They are building neural connections in their brain and this helps them retain the information much better. Math is sequential in nature. Sequential learners will benefit from this because they will see how all the puzzle pieces fit together. Global learners who want to see the entire picture will also benefit from a well structured lesson since they can trust that the punch line is coming.

Part of that is setting clear objectives for each day. If you have a structure plan for the lesson you are teaching you need to tell your students. You would be surprised how many times a day students ask their teacher "What are we doing today?" and "What do I do now?" They need direction, they need a goal. They need to know that there is reason they are in your class. There time is valuable and should not be waisted by you. If they feel like you are waisting thier time they will find another activity right then. If they feel like they have a goal for the day they will work towards it. Students want to be productive. Humans want to be productive.

Once you have a clear objective, you need to think of how to present the lesson to them in a way that will not bore them. Students often check out because they are bored. Children specifically have a short attention span. If they are bored, they will not care, and they will not be engaged.

Lastly, your students need your encouragement. Encourage, encourage, encourage them. They need it. I used to take cycling classes. There were two different instructors that would lead the class. The one I liked better, would constantly tell the class as we cycled, "Keep going. Don't give up. You've got a little bit more to go." The one I liked less didn't do this. So I decided to try this in the classroom. I was substitute teaching that week in a kindergarten class. I came into the classroom, introduced myself, and gave my students clear instructions for their first task. As they were working, I encourged them. As they worked I would say, "You're doing good. Keep working quietly and independently." It was quiet in the room and they were all working hard. I decided that my experiment worked. I decided that my students need me there in the process encouraging them as they work, not only before and after. We all feed off encouragement, no?

#classroomrules #classroomtips #ADD #attentioninclassroom #payingattention