Why should a math teacher have to entertain?

Question

IF students are not interested in math, should a teacher become so amaizingly intersting that students can't help themselves and learn the material?.
Does it require more thinking?.
Or, do some students just lack the intelligence to grasp such simple ideas.
Is math all that complex for high schooler now a days?. or have they become so brainwashed by TV, and Videogames, etc, that having to use the brain takes to much work?
Should we always blame math teachers for student laziness?

Answer 1

Most students aren't interested not only because of TV and videogames but a lot of the attitude is that math is something they will ever use in the future and that math is just a punch of numbers and equations. To get them out of that mindset, some teachers will veer from straight lecture to other methods students can relate to. Being a math major, I've had my share of wacky techniques teachers use--from puppet shows to lame jokes, from games to rapping mathmatical formulas to "The Real Slim Shady" (the nightmares still haunt me). You can call it "entertaining" but as long as students start to get interested in learning or at least listening to the subject, that's all that really matters.

Answer 2

What kind of answer do you want?

Sometimes people ask such biased questions.

To answer your original question, math teachers shouldn't have to entertain, but to hold someone's attention for at least a minute would be a plus. If they can't do that, then they aren't teaching the students, are they? They're listening to themselves talk. Thinking is always required to learn, and some students just don't care. But others, such as the ones that "lack intelligence" need special help. If you are a teacher, then you should be specially mindful of these persons and help them in any way you can. That's what you're paid to do, isn't it? If I'm hired to do something, I do it, do it for the entire time i'm paid for it, and do it to the best of my abilities, no matter if it means more work. That is why teachers should try all means plausible to help students learn. FYI, I am one of these "high-schoolers" that is taking math. I excel in the subject, among others, and am in honors classes a year ahead of my grade. Our class is anything but lazy, but the teacher does have to do some of the WORK involved, they ARE paid for it. Should we blame students for teacher laziness? Because that's becoming very common. Teachers often won't even grade their own assignments but take class time supposed to be spent teaching having the students grade each others papers. They often will only provide busy work to the students in order to have class time to grade the things that are not automatically graded for them, something that should be done at home. My mother is a school teacher, and she works her tail off, and grades her own assignments at home. She creates her own lesson plans and works hard to get the students involved. So I have both sides of the story here, I think you need to rethink your biased question, stop looking at what is wrong with the people around you for the time being, and start with looking at yourself.

Answer 3

You must be a math teacher huh? Why do you keep asking questions about math? Do you just lack the intelligence to grasp such simple things in life? Why do you care? Did you ever stop to think that some students are NOT lazy and need extra help to understand some math problems and that the teacher is too lazy and uptight to provide them with the help they need? Why should ANY teacher have to be entertaining in their teaching methods? Why is it you keep asking questions concerning MATH teachers and not all teachers?
Ask your self those questions then think about that before posing another question like this one. Actually computer and such help teach kids today how important math is and that it actually does come into play in everyday life.
In case your wondering NO am not a student. However you are starting to get a bit annoying. Have a nice night/day :-)

Answer 4

If a teacher makes a class enjoyable it's a much better learning environment - especially for kids that may have better aptitude in other areas. The impact of TV, video games, etc. has made it so that many younger people need constant stimulation in order to maintain their attention level. It's not their fault, it's just the affect of technology that is readily available for most people.

I had a geometry teacher in high school that was quite interesting. It wasn't the geometry though - he provoked a lot of thought on many levels by also discussing current events in class, reading Ann Landers advice columns if there were pertinent subjects for people our age, and basically just helping teach life and coping skills. He didn't spend a lot of time on those subjects - maybe half an hour a week at most - but we knew that we could ask him anything and not be told we were stupid or wrong. He simply helped outline the pros and cons and provided insight to the impact of our actions on our future lives.

While geometry was far from my favorite subject, that particular teacher made it one of my favorite classes.

Answer 5

Are you a teacher or a commentator? You sound like you don't live in (classroom) reality..... You want to blame the students.

Most teachers are not themselves capable enough to actually teach via entertainment. Only a very select few are so skilled and brilliant. Teaching is a fine art, and math teachers have more stereotypes than most to overcome when convincing students to learn. Many teachers are there because they like students and know one subject better than others -- not because they are brilliant at what they do. Unfortunately, there are any number of near-failures out there to turn multitudes of kids off to math (same w/any subject). Boring teachers are ineffective teachers.

Similarly, there are always going to be students who simply don't care about math (same w/any subject; I hated history which some, like you, would say is a "simple concept"). My guess is students today need to understand how math relates to their lives. (Teachers ought to be able to explain that!) The computer technology is actually creating a drive to learn math in sectors of the population that never before needed it. Anyone can become good at computer science and make a career of it -- and it's pretty generally accepted that math is a prerequisite.

Answer 6

Math teachers can't be blamed for student laziness but there are ways to make math interesting without becoming a stand-up comic. Our schools should be teaching students basic skills of how to use math in their everyday lives (including checking and savings accounts and investments). All students should have this knowledge and then the kids headed to colleges can also take the classes they need for admission.

Answer 7

I don't see why math teachers need to entertain their students. However, trying to make the subject more approachable is a good idea. A math teacher is no clown, comedian, performer, or singer. So if a student is not interested in math, then that's his/her problem. A math teacher isn't interested in teaching nitwits either.

Answer 8

I do well in math, but if the teacher's boring the kids will fall asleep or space out. It always helps to keep the class interesting. One of my teachers would always through in these corny jokes that weren't all that funny, but it kept our attention. I'm in 11th grade by the way. A good teacher should be able to keep the kids attention. But you are right that TV and videogames have brainwashed my generation...

Answer 9

The TV video games part is correct. Students have lost the interest to think about something - they just want to remember stuff and reproduce it. Not the fault of a maths teacher.

Answer 10

I have had good and bad math teachers... but the ones that i have learned from the most are the ones that spend time teaching it... while bein creative and not so boring.... its a really awsome way to learn, and if you do it just rite then the students will want to obsorbe all the info they can get... thats how i was... just remember.. fun while learning= GREAT RESULTS