Letting your students work together on assignments will make learning math more fun and less frightening.
Understanding math is tricky, even for the most intelligent middle schoolers. The techniques a teacher uses to organize her class can help her students understand the material and feel confident about their abilities to complete assignments and pass examinations. Additionally, adhering to a schedule will familiarize students with what to expect and motivate them to get as much as they can out of their short time in class.
Instructions
1. List a few math problems on the board and instruct students to quietly work on them as they enter class. The problems can be related to previous lessons, or introduce new concepts you plan to teach during that day's lesson. Provide students with enough time to confidently complete the assignments, but not so much that they get distracted and lose focus. A couple of minutes for each problem--ten minutes total for 4-6 problems, depending on the nature of the equation--should be enough for most students.
2. Select students from the crowd to walk to the board and demonstrate how they solved a particular problem. Each student should be assigned just one problem, although they should be allowed to consult each other should any confusion arise. After problem completion, students should then explain to their classmates, step-by-step, how they knew which approach to use. Allow students to bring their notes with them to the board; even the most confident students may feel nervous in front of a crowd, despite their knowledge about the material.
3. Divide the classroom into groups of three or four students and instruct them discuss how they completed the previous night's homework. To avoid cheating, check each student's assignment for completion before dividing them into groups. Although many teachers are reluctant to allow their students to socialize during class, close monitoring and a group evaluation system will prevent most students from getting distracted.
4. Select samples of the various types of problems students need to solve and complete them on the board. Address small discrepancies in format, as these are often the cause of students' confusion. Be sure to encourage open communication--many students have questions but are afraid to ask them because they do not want to look silly. Remind the class that no question is stupid and making inquiries is a basic component of subject mastery.
5. Give students their homework assignment and allow them to work on it for the remainder of the class. This will allow them to consult their classmates for advice and ask you any questions if they are still unable to understand.
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