If they need so many math teachers why is it that the teaching methods are not good for every student.?

Question

If the teaching methods were better, more people would study math.

even students that are willing to learn can have difficulty understanding it.
and there are subjects where there are more people willing to teach than there are jobs.

Answer 1

Teaching methods aren't good for EVERY student because EVERY student is different. There are different ways to learn new information. I myself need to see it in writing. Other people need to receive information tactically, still others' learning is auditory. Because people learn in so many different ways, information must be taught in different ways to reach everyone. If a teacher relies too heavily on one method, it alienates too many students.

What teaching methods do you suggest would bring more people into the field of math?

Answer 2

Teaching any subject is difficult because there are as many learning styles as there are people. Remember its not just teaching style and methods (the part of the teacher) but also the learning methods used by the students. Teachers use as many methods as possible, but math is logic based and half the world has trouble using that left half of the brain. People simply do not want to push themselves to use that part of the brain which does not come naturally. If something doesnt come easily they blame the teacher and the subject, not themselves. The truth is you can not learn math without that left side of your brain. Not everything can be tailored - taught for the students comfort and ease. They need math teachers because math is an important subject for everyone to learn and master the fundamentals of. Most math majors do not go into teaching because they find more profitable work in other fields. Why should they go into a job where people blame and insult them when they do not want to rise to the challenge of the subject?

Answer 3

All the teaching methods can only do so much. Everyone is different, meaning that not everybody will understand or even know how to use a general method. The teaching methods, generally are good except mathematics takes a longer time to get unlike other subjects such as Science or Physical Education. You have to build and relate what you know from previous strands and then apply it again. E.g.: 2+2=4, 2x2=4; 3+3+3+3+3=15, 3x5=15. This is where if you don't understand it, you're in trouble. In fact, to get more people interested in math, they would need to be exposed to all methods or take remedial (Saturday) courses.

Answer 4

Teaching mathematics requires that students be willing to learn; if a student is unwilling, or believes he/she CANNOT learn math, then they won't have any luck no matter how good the method.

As to the number of teachers - I'm not sure what this has to do with method; there are many fields into which a person trained in math can go, and teaching is far from the most lucrative. Until teachers are reasonably paid, there won't be enough teachers in ANY subject.

Answer 5

As was mentioned already, the student must have a good attitude and be willing to try or it won't matter what method is used.
As to why any method is not good for every student, that is where the real art of teaching comes in. They can teach you all kinds of facts and methods in your classes, but only working with students helps you to see that methods must be changed in every class, and sometimes several different methods must be used in the same class in order to reach most, if not always all students. It is very hard to pull that off if the class is too large and ill behaved. It takes an enormous amount of dedicated effort.

Answer 6

People learn differently. Some are auditory learners (they learn best by hearing something explained) some are visual learners (they learn best by reading about or seeing something done) and others are kinesthetic learners (they learn best by doing.) The best teachers try to plan lessons that include all these attributes. Not all people that are good in math make good math teachers. If you don't understand a concept, ask that it be explained differently or get another student to help you.

Answer 7

there is no straight answer. and i don't necessarily agree that teaching methods in every school are bad.

Answer 8

everybody learns differently.