HOW A TEACHER CAN MOTIVATE A CLASS

How to motivate your class or student

Mathematics is a challenging subject and needs some creative ways to motivate your students so that they enjoy learning maths. Here are some of the ways that can help you maintain their interest for the subject 

#1 Always start with easiest questions

Easiest questions motivate students and give them hope of easily solving complex questions in the same manner. 

Don't rush to test standard exam question, rather go step by step until they are ready for a complex question. 

For example if you are teaching fractions, start with 

- converting improper fractions to mixed fractions and vice versa 

- Reducing fractions to lowest term

- Addition and subtraction of fractions with same denominator

- Now introduce different denominators

- Introduce mixed fractions

Check available Video Lessons Here

You can see that when they take it step by step, it makes subsequent concepts easier than to start with an exam type question. Learn to develop simple questions for basic concepts

#2 Find Many Options for a Problem 

Not all students are comfortable with a single way of solving a math problem. There are other ways of solving the same problem. That's the beauty of mathematics, it involves many ways of dealing with the same thing

You will discover that when you use a 'one size fits all' approach, some students will start to lose heart and eventually quit the subject or totally lose interest for the subject.

Using at least two methods might motivate a student since one of the methods is obviously easier or shorter than the other. They might be both or all difficult but providing options makes the other method a life saver. 

There is always a better way to deal with the same problem to different students 

# Try Use some Teaching Aids or ICTs

Technology makes everything interesting. 

Using ICTs in mathematics is one of the best ways to raise interest of students for the subject. There are many ways you can do this. 

- a computer might demonstrate dice rolling

- Solitaire game might be useful for experimental probability

Some teaching aids that are use useful

- use cylinders and cuboids of same volume when teaching conversion of cubic centimeters to milliliters

Motivation is the source of success especially in Mathematics. That makes it one of the most interesting subject on Earth

HOW TO PREPARE FOR MATHEMATICS PAPER 1 (O LEVEL)

PREPARING FOR PAPER 1

The first paper is popular for being tricky and many candidates confirm they don't finish attempting questions within stipulated time. Today I will focus on how to prepare for the first paper and ways to perform better.

In one of the posts I wrote last year on my blog zimtuts.blogspot.com I highlighted how the first paper is designed to 'steal' your time and the biase of mark distribution. I will highlight new tricks in the next posts on paper 1.

# Tested concepts #

Paper 1 tests almost 90% of the syllabus in 25 - 30 questions. The syllabus specifies that the paper tests all the concepts. There is need to check the whole syllabus sections and compare with the textbook topics to see if it's covering the whole syllabus.

The basic topics tested in the beginning of the paper [question 1 - 13] involves 

- Prime Factors

- Type of numbers

- Square roots

- Fractions and decimals

- Volume, density and mass

- Unit conversions

- Time

- Limit of accuracy 

- Approximations and estimations 

- Scale and map problems

- Similarity

Among other basic topics

Using New General Mathematics Book 3 and 4? Check if these basic topics are covered.

# How to Prepare for the Paper #

One of the reasons why candidates fail is they assume maths is all about complex questions and waste much of their time of optional topics like Cosine rule, transformation or Mensuration.

First start to master basic concepts. The first step in Maths is to know the operands and how they apply to every situation. 

Try to master the following 

- multiples (time - table or Multiples of 1 to 12)

- Factors of numbers up to 100

- Types of numbers 

- Directed numbers 

- Rounding numbers 

- Addition and subtraction of time

- Formulas for areas and other basic calculations 

- Conversions of units 

You will find that most don't finish the paper because they fail to quickly calculate say 9 x 13, or 11 x 12. Someone scribble the whole answer space to calculate these types of basic multiplication.

It might sound fun but it's worth to start by mastering that multiple table at the back of the exercise books. Learn to memorize it by head. If possible expand it up to the multiples of 15 or 20. It will make your life easier in the next topics

The disadvantages of using Book 3 is that you miss most of the concepts covered in Book 1 and 2. It's advisable to first learn those basics before you start to use book 3.

Most teachers expect you to have covers majority of these topics at primary level or Junior Level. If you were not paying attention or did not cover the topics due to various reasons, consider revisiting the principles on your own time and learn the basic rules of numbers.

# What makes Prime Factors Important # 

Finding Prime Factors of numbers is important since it helps you in many concepts including but not limited to 

- finding roots

- Multiples

- Factors

- HCF and LCM

- Factorization 

- Indices

Master how to express a number as product of its prime factors. It will save your life in many principles. 

NB: Do you want to learn these basic principles? Ask for FREE video lessons on basic numbers on 

WhatsApp +263 733 796 118

NEW CURRICULUM UPDATES

It's been long without writing anything on new curriculum. There has been a lot of confusion over it, with some schools implementing the new curriculum to form 1 and 5 students, and other schools also including form 3s. 

According to whats on the ground, the new curriculum first exam is likely to be next year and the current form 3 students will be pioneers of the exam.  However, it's not clear how the pupils will be assessed since the new syllabus for the curriculum shows a coursework needs to start from form 1.

Schools have since introduced the new learning areas as required by the new curriculum. There are 7 compulsory subjects which included Heritage Studies, General Mathematics, General Science to name a few. 

Students are expected to sit for at least 10 subjects, of which 7 are compulsory for every student. You will have to chose three options that will determine your study area at A Level. If someone intents to study Mathematics at A Level, there is Pure Mathematics and Statistics options at O Level.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS 

1. New Exam structure next year

As I highlighted before, Mathematics is coming with new paper structure synonymous to that of Cambridge syllabus D whereby students have 4 options in Sections B (Old curriculum had 3 options) from 7 questions. 

Teachers and Students needs to study the new Exam Structure. I hope ZIMSEC will provide the specimen papers next year for teachers and candidates to see the structure of the papers they will be sitting for.

2. Time Up for Cottage Colleges 

The new curriculum needs a qualified staff who will be trained to assess students using new curriculum guidelines. Cottage Colleges with unqualified staff or that which is not properly registered needs to find ways to incorporate new developments if they are to prepare their students for ZIMSEC exams. 

It's almost time up for Cottage Colleges.

3. Chose schools adopting preferred learning path

Since not all schools are adopting Sciences or Arts, it's advisable to look out for schools offering pure sciences as options. General Science or Mathematics don't qualify a student to study Science or Pure Mathematics at A level. One has to study pure chemistry, biology and physics. For maths you have to go with Pure Mathematics at O level

(To be Continued...)