The Simplest Way To Teach Math –

MEET AND GREET MATHEMATICS

My first day as a Year 4 elementary mathematics 🧮 teacher 👨‍🏫

I had taught Year 3 classes in the previous five years before I was deployed to teach Year 4 as a Mathematics subject teacher.

My main desire was to create the growth mindset and mentality that mathematics is an interesting subject, fun, and easy by following a step-by-step process.

As I carefully prepared for the first and bubbling way to introduce MEET AND GREET Mathematics, I made up my mind that I would create a lasting impression in their Math’s journey.

I decided to make the ‘’main thing the main thing’’ by starting with a growth mindset, oftentimes there is this belief that MATHEMATICS is a difficult subject and quite demanding.

As we know Year Four is the preliminary to the upper primary classes, therefore the foundation must be properly laid with the solid belief that Maths is everywhere.

I created a scenario in my head and determined to make mathematics become like an ice -cream that most children crave and delight in daily just like their normal meal since it is a daily subject. Starting on this clean slate created a desire and longing to look forward to my classes .

I set the ball rolling as I asked the students a simple question “WHERE CAN WE FIND MATHEMATICS?”

Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.
— Shakuntala Devi, Indian writer and mental calculator

I told them that MATHEMATICS is practically everywhere and around us.

• It is impossible to do without maths.
• It is fun 🤩 and easy to catch up.
• It involves a step-by-step process.
• It requires your attention.
• It is easy to solve problems.
• It is an everyday activity.
• It is done daily.

I was able to warm my way into their hearts ♥️ from day one in order to have a smooth and excellent journey in our Mathematics class adventure.

They eagerly mentioned things that involved numbers, shapes in food, measurement etc.

Their eyes sparkled with joy 🤩.

The class started with the simplest and previous topic – addition.

Everyone likes to have more.

I wanted the students to develop growth and abundance mindsets.

As they learn which I believe will transcend in all the other subjects and most especially in their life, I realized that becoming a lifelong learner is doable and one must not be afraid to surmount any task no matter how difficult it may seem.

Go down deep enough into anything and you will find mathematics.
— Dean Schlicter

Mathematics is everywhere-

These are some of the places the students mentioned:

Places one can find maths in operation:

• Mall,
• Restaurant – whole chicken, quarter chicken,
• A pint of milk,
• Phone numbers,
• Wheels of a car 🚘,
• Number of lego bricks,
• Birthday cakes 🎂 🍰.
• Hospital – tablets twice daily
• School -circular table, clock 🕰
• Beautiful architectural patterns in the kitchen, bathroom etc
• Mathematics is fun.

The kind of approach we give to learning a concept can make it more appealing.

Are you a subject teacher?

Are you willing to imbibe this idea of the growth mindset?

What would you do differently to make your classes interesting?