How come so many math teachers can't teach math?

Question

Or is it just me?

Answer 1

It's not just you. These days (especially in California and Michigan) there is a shortage of "qualified" instructors. Therefore the education system allows for schools to hire non-college-educated people to teach in public schools. In some cases (such as you mentioned) the teachers don't fully understand the subject and are teaching straight out of the textbook rather than from experience and true knowledge of the subject.

It sucks, but that's what we have to live with until more students study to become public school instructors.

Even sadder is that due to this, the U.S. is behind India and China in math and science/technological skills and our economy could end up suffering in as little as 20 years as the Eastern nations gain advancement in scientific fields.

It is important that students today choose to sharpen their math skills and seek careers where math and chemistry are required for the advancement of scientific and technological capabilites.

For more info on teaching standards go to http://ed.gov and for more on China and India and the role they play in today's global economy, visit http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/05_34/B3948chinaindia.htm



And the teacher above should not be blaming his students but rather finding ways to reach them. If he is advanced in math skills, then he CAN get through to his students. It may seem impossible but maybe he could offer additional incentives to promote math among his students. Also, it wouldn't hurt to open up communication with their parents, if he truly cares about their attitudes concerning mathematics.

Answer 2

I teach math. Why do you say that? Let me list a few things that could lead to what you are talking about from a student's point of view:

-students don't do hw, which leads to a lack of understanding, and then they won't know what the teacher is talking about.

-students have a bad attitude about math, which means that no matter what the teacher says, the student won't listen.

-students have a different style of learning than the teacher is presenting. Not much you can do here, the teacher really should be attempting different things to reach all students...but it doesn't mean they don't know how to teach math.

-students don't ask questions. Even if you are shy, you should ask questions either in class or out of class if you don't get something. You can also ask friends that do know what they are doing.

Hope these are helpful...

Answer 3

I've been teaching tooo long. So during my second year of teaching science and social studies, my principal tells me that if I want my job the next year, I've got to teach math. I'm freaked out, but I like where I live and love my pay check, so I say yes, I'll teach math, knowing full well that I flunked more math classes that anyone in school.

I learned that I am a good math teacher because, I understand what the kids don't. And I can explain it to them in away that they understand it . It was like we were speaking "math pig latin" and we all understood. When I would ask those life-long math teachers simple questions about how to teach a subject, they'd send me spinning into outer space with their answers. I only did that a few times before I learned how to read math books and find other resources to teach me how to teach math to students.

My students, their parents, the principal and everyone was sooo amazed at my ability to teach math. I was too. But when a kid would say, what is z. I knew exactly what they were talking about. I knew that they had no clue as to what dividens, sums, multiples and all that were so I took the time to teach them things that their other math teacher's who really understood math hadn't.

I taught math for 6 years. My kids test scores were high and good, but then NCLB came along and said I wasn't qualified. So now I'm back to teaching science. Love it too.

Answer 4

Maybe they can but they are teaching a way you just don't get. I teach math (Algebra) and early on I had the same complaints. Then I began teaching Special Ed math and I learned that sometime a picture can tell and thousand words so I stated explaining by drawing pictures. That seemed to work the best but I also use different music to teach math. I use it as a rhythm. I figure if kids can learn an entire rap song then I would use the rhythm and do math. It works.

Answer 5

Just you. I think the problem is that math is a pretty straight forward subject, but many people approach math differently. Also, some people just don't understand math. From my first math class til midway through my 8th grade year, I was awful in math. I didn't get it, I didn't like it, and I got bad grades, even if I asked for help. Finally in the last half of my eigth grade year, I had a math teacher who took the time to explain math in a simple way that helped me understand it, and from then on I never got lower than a B in math classes and usually A's.

Answer 6

I don't teach Maths, at the same time I am a teacher only of humanitarian subject. When I was a pupil myself I was not very capable in mathematics, at the same time the other pupils did very well in Maths. Such results we had with not differentiating teaching approach, that is all were taught equally. Those who were gifted in Maths grasped everything quickly and easily, I didn't grasp immediately, but I understood that it was my destiny and I didn't study Maths additionally by the way. How dare I blame my Math teacher for my in-born gift of Maths? The other thing, would have been if I had had regular private Maths lessons and they would have given no results. But even then if a person is not gifted in something, Maths for example, then you can't expect great results in Maths from him/her.

Answer 7

The current math teachers cannot teach math, because they
were not consistently taught math, but a variety of math systems.
None of these systems help anyone function in the real world,
that is why, high schoolers cannot make change and a variety of other things. I like to blame college professors and school administraters, because they have opted to play with the unproven but new and exciting way to teach math. New and exciting for them, almost useless for the rest of the population.
I have six children, half were taught one type of set math, the others something different. I taught them all the multiplication, addition, subtraction and division math, so they can balance check books, make change and function.

Answer 8

It's not that they can't teach math it's because every one person male or female just learn differently. Find a tutor that can teach how you can understand it. Math is fun and really works the mind for all things we do in life. And remember there are many different formulas to get to the same conclusion maybe your teacher can explain them to you?

Answer 9

Math is application based. There is a set procedure to finding an answer. Math does not allow for grey areas. It is quite factual. To teach it is repetitive and precise. You can make Math fun to an extent, but you still have to know the order in which to do it. Math teachers focus on procedure, which in many cases is very dry. Many math teachers have to try and look outside the box. That is impossible to do for many. They become set in their own mathimatical world. This is just my observations as a teacher.

Answer 10

I think it's just that math is a subject where it's hard to learn from the teacher unless they teach in the particular way that you learn well from. I've had plenty of math teachers that I learn well from, but other people don't. Same goes for the other way around.