Strategies to Increase Interest in Math

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volunteered to work with a modified sixth grade math group (I wouldn’t call it a class, there were between 4 and 8 students) prior to starting my Pre-Clinical Experience. One of the sixth grade teachers had set me up with lessons, worksheets and assessments and then left me in an activity room to work with these children. As soon as we were alone the groaning, moaning and complaining started. “Why do we have do this, we’re never gonna need this?” “Mr. Curtin, I can’t do Math” “I’m always in the dummy class, I’ll never get it” I did not know any thing about their math skills, but I knew I had to find away to change their attitudes toward math. This group (and many others I am sure) are intimidated and unwilling to even try engaging with mathematics. At the next opportunity, I asked Mrs. Trytten and Mrs. Marron (the teachers of record for the sixth grade) for advice. Besides the expected advice on developing a student’s self-efficacy, we talked about strategies to get students interested and engaged with math. I later had a chance to practice some of these strategies with second and fourth graders and my middle school niece and her friends, these strategies seem universal. Strategy One: It starts with the teacher (tutor, parent, or uncle who was roped into helping his niece and friends) modeling interest and curiosity. Explaining any procedural concepts becomes more palatable with a sincere, positive “Think Aloud.” Rather than say, “here’s how to do percentages”, set up an authentic math problem (Levi’s on sale normally $30, 10 % off of at Target and at Sears, normally $39 now 40% . which is the better deal?) , figure out how to solve it, and end it with a sort of “good for me” ( with the 3.60 I save I’ll go to Yougurtland). Find away to model and demonstrate that math is fun and useful. Strategy Two: Manipulatives. I’m a trained chef and I found that my old

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