why is it so difficult to motivate my students to want to learn math in high school?

Answer 1

I'm a longtime math-phobia sufferer. In high school, I wanted to avoid it because:
it seemed insurmountably difficult (I was wrong);
it didn't seem necessary for life in the "real world" (I was wrong);
it didn't seem fun (I was wrong);
it didn't seem "cool" (I was wrong);
I didn't see any mathematicians among the famous people I hoped someday to emulate;
I was very much distracted by sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

May I suggest you ask your students for their own reasons? You may find it easier to make them see the light if you first get them to articulate, specifically, their own misgivings about learning math.

I wish you greater success than my teachers had with me!
: ^ )

Answer 2

Because unless you are going into the sciences, it has little relevance in one's future life.

It is also extremely difficult subject for most people. There is a reason half of all college freshman fail freshman algebra and it's not the high schools or the intelligence level of the students. It took me three attempts to pass, and I'm no dummy. Most people's minds just are not wired for the the concepts.

Try to incorporate real life examples of math I work. I remember the one occasion where I used my high school geometry. I worked in a fabric store, and customers wanted to know how much trim to put around the edge of a circular table clothe. Diameter time Pi. You'd be surprised how many people did not believe me.

I tried to think of math as exercise for the brain.

And btw, thank you for being a teacher.

Answer 3

I believe that the connection that the students make with the math content needs to be linked to real world experiences and situtation. Many of the math textbooks that states approve do not have "real-world" applications that speak to the challenges, situtations, and tasks of today's student. Therefore, the subject matter seems unusable and many teens begin to shut down. Maybe try to add to the curriculum some realia, scenerios, and competition based around the math concepts as they are learning them.

I hope this helps!

http://www.thecaliforniateacher.com

Answer 4

I always say, no matter how old they are, make it fun somehow or give them an insentive that interests them more than a good grade in math. Math games work on all ages of students I have found. Take what they like and put it to math. It can be done, even in Calculus

Answer 5

Try to help them see applications for math in the real world. They're trying to figure out what they want to do in life and they probably can't see the connection between their math learning and what they want to do when they graduate. You can find poster charts that show the kids what math concepts you use in what careers, but it might be even better to have the kids make the poster themeselves...either as a whole class or in small groups or alone.

If kids hate math, it's because they don't understand it...not because they just hate it. Try to figure out what they're not understanding.

Answer 6

Because they're teenagers for one, and for another, they don't think they'll ever use 'that stuff" in day to day life.
Best thing to do would be to prove them wrong! Bring in life examples of percentages & measurments & show them how they're applicable in real life. Whether its a formula behind their cell phone company and minutes (step scale) or the compunding interest example. Things to do with money usually get a lot of interest. Ask a question that shows how much a penny doubled every day adds up to, stuff like that.
I don't know the formula off the top of my head, but my college professor talked about a formula that shows why its so hard to change a habit (a math formula that predcts how long it takes to change the "groove" formed in the brain when it comes to "habitual" behavors.
Make it interesting to them by relating it to real life situations for them.
Good luck!

Answer 7

the abilities required to be a caveman residing in one hundred,000 BC Europe were quite complicated and time-eating and required very a lot of ability and ingenuity. yet no man or woman has those skills any more desirable. Fifty years in the past, it became a effective ability to manage to operate and subtract lengthy lists of numbers manually and precisely. you would also be paid a superb salary to finish that. not any more desirable. utilising a calculator properly is an major ability now, and could be basically as complicated a pastime as lengthy branch. that's more desirable major at present to manage to *estimate* the end results of a calculation than to do it through hand precisely correct, for you to verify the calculator. (yet lamentably they couldn't try this both). the perfect use of a calculator or Mathematica will be basically peachy through me. regardless of the indisputable fact that the problem is they could't even use a calculator properly, basically as you're saying!! Arghe! there are various procedures to attain perception into mathematics, and gaining recognize-how of algorithms for addition multiplication and integration is basically one way. there's no reason to suspect that drawing close mathematics otherwise would inevitably bring about a lot less recognize-how or appreciation of the concern. In different words, there is more desirable than some skills in arithmatic, inclusive of estimation and translating statements from English (or regardless of vernacular) into formalism (more desirable major in 2010) and guide algorithms (more desirable major in 1950) as well as huge form theory, set theory, etc. i imagine the major problem is that more desirable students choose college stages now basically to get jobs, and those who don't have the abilities to be in college are although enrolling.

Answer 8

I'm in college, and I have to struggle to stay motivated in math because it seems like it's pointless.
With things like English it's easy to see why you would need it, because in the world of e-mails you need to be able to communicate, but why do you need algebra?

I know that it's used for pretty much everything and that the world would crumble without it, but since I don't see it in everyday life, I don't find it nessessary for every major.
I try to avoid it as much as possible.

Answer 9

because they don't see how they will use algebra in the real world. Thats the reason I hated math. But once i got into college i had an awesome math teacher who would use real world situations in the math questions and it helped make more sense.

Answer 10

ok they are bored and most likely its at the end of the day. let them have snacks and make it fun. have games, team games, use bribes. if they do well in so much time etc... u will bring in some treats, pizza, somthn like that. Kids are kids. just show enthusiam!!!