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 

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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...)

2017 and the New Curriculum: Speculations and Facts

The new curriculum implementation is starting this year, 2017, with Forms 1 and 5. 

The syllabus covers the years 2015 to 2022.

I received the document just yesterday and took my time reading through  to get some sense about the new curriculum since there are many confusions around it. Many teachers, candidates and students are speculating that 2017 is the last year of writing final exams without coursework. 

I have been coming across adverts on social media, posters and fliers written "Final Year to Write Exams As A Private Candidate! Enroll with us today and prepare". After reading the document, I wondered if the people speculating that have taken their time to read and study the new document on new curriculum and see the implications of the requirements. 

My first discovery in the document was this, the new curriculum is starting with Form 1 and 5 students only. The continuous assessment for O Level starts from form 1 and is done in 11 terms, the 12th term is for the Exam. There will be topic tasks, Written Tests and End of Term Tests.

Each Year is contributing 4.5% for 4 years [thats 18%] and then two Projects, one for Form 1 & 2 and another for Form 3 & 4 [meaning this will contribute remaining 12% or its 6% each]

Step by step Video Lessons For Maths. 

Click Here

This means only form 1 students are eligible for the new assessment scheme and the rest should continue with old way of doing things. They will complete their O Levels without course work requirements. 

This also literally means, Form 2 students are the last batch to write the exam without course work and they are not writing their final exams in 2017 as speculated by other people.

2017: Current Form 2

2018: they will be Form 3

2019: they will be in Form 4 [Final Exam]

2020: Continuos Assessment Completes. First Exam For the New Curriculum

Don't be fooled, you have other three years up to 2019 to write exams without coursework. 

NB: The syllabus for Mathematics started 2015 and this means you should follow the current syllabus that ends 2022. 

Hope you benefited a lot from this post. You can suggest corrections and additions to the post to make it a valuable pierce. 

Comment your thoughts on this blog

If you have anything that you us to cover concerning Zimsec Syllabus and Examinations, please let me know on WhatsApp +263 733 796 118

Basics Are Most Important

Many potential candidates fail simply because they ignore important things. They claim to have studied New General Mathematics Book 3 and 4, and follow the crowd's claim that it is the whole syllabus of Zimsec Mathematics. Zimsec don't test questions from a textbook but a syllabus. There is no one textbook that covers everything in a syllabus and it's advisable to refer to many sources.

There are four books if you prefer using New General Mathematics series. Start from Book 1 and learn all basic principles as enunciated by the syllabus. Majority of candidates think that it's easier to master O Level principles without covering the Junior Level Mathematics. O level principles build upon the foundations laid by Junior Course. 

Basic Mathematics principles are widely tested in paper 1. Many people can testify that they wrote the exam without knowledge of estimations like significant figures and rounding off figures. Some O levels chose to ignore things like type of numbers, they don't even know even numbers, prime numbers and integers. These principles are tested in sets and limit of accuracy. 

The tricky part of using Book 3 is that it has assumptions. It expects users of that book to have covered all principles in Book 1 and 2 , and continuously refers you back to their previous books in the series. 

However, nowadays New General Mathematics, Although it's still considered the best book for O Level, there are other simplified books with more relevant information to the current syllabus. Look out for books like Maths Today and Revision O Level Mathematics. 

My Advise

1. Start by learning basic principles of numbers, types and operations on numbers (BODMAS)

2. Master directed numbers 

3. Learn how to estimate numbers to decimal places, significant numbers and place values

4. Learn basic algebra and formation of algebra from a given statement

5. Learn Mensuration in Junior course, it's also tested in paper 1

6. Learn how to use scientific calculator in fractions, decimals and graphs 

7. Master units of measurements, capacity principles and time

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Simultaneous Inequalities 

Don't be put off by previous attempts

Don't be put off by previous attempts

Many candidates don't make it in mathematics for the first time. Statistics shows that less than 30% of the candidates do well in November Mathematics Exams.

Maybe you have tried many times and failed the Exam and are considering a resit in next June or Nov Exams. It's not time to get discouraged by previous results. 

The most important thing in this case is to learn from mistakes. We fail because we make mistakes in our study or in the exams.

 

It maybe that

- you didn't cover important areas of the syllabus

- you couldn't finish the exam 

- you are not that good in maths 

- you hate the subject

- you couldn't find a better tutor.

- or YOU SIMPLY DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

It's time to reconsider and look out for the best ways to deals with your mistakes and weaknesses.

What do you think failed you in your last attempt?