ACS International School Cobham (LW)
DR KAROLINA HAMMER
Inspiring investigators: Why thinking outside of the textbook is key to engaging students in mathematics For many students, mathematics can seem very black and white; it’s either “I’m good at maths” or “I am not”. This can, unfortunately, result in a kind of stigma and anxiety around the subject; at the beginning of the school year I will often see young people feeling very unsure of their abilities and even a little fearful of mathematics. Maths anxiety is a real thing – data from the Maths Anxiety Trust, an organisation that aims to eliminate anxiety around mathematics, reveals that more than a third of 15- to 24- year-olds feel anxious when shown a maths problem and a study published in Psychology Research and Behaviour Management indicates that higher levels of maths anxiety can be found in females. Despite this unease around maths, there are many wonderful ways in which teachers can not only help students cross these emotional hurdles, but can inspire them to enjoy their learning and, as a result, help them to develop important critical thinking, problem-solving and inquiry skills that they will take with them throughout their lives. It’s our role as teachers to provide an un-puzzling experience, showcasing that mathematics is everywhere and the skills you learn are incredibly transferable – much like our wider lives, there are problems everywhere, we just need to find out the best ways to solve them. A key point from my perspective is that when teaching subjects like mathematics, you need to go beyond the textbook syllabus; maths cannot be taught in a simple, standalone way if you want students to, firstly, engage with the topic, and, secondly, develop the skills they need to thrive at university and beyond. Students are full of curiosity and it’s the duty of the teacher to take this
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curiousness and turn it into an investigation and hence a learning experience. There are many ways you can do this both within the boundaries of the classroom and as extra-curricular activities.
Classroom practice In the very first instance, teachers need to make students feel comfortable as soon as they step through the classroom door – we need to help them overcome that initial fear. If a student is feeling anxious about their mathematical ability, it’s important to sit them down and focus on what their strengths are and then build from there. Teachers need to remember to look at students as individuals; everybody has a different threshold, learning curve and skills – and we need to work to help them grow. It takes a lot of time and patience, but eventually we can begin to break down the barriers and help all students discover their abilities and a love of the subject. Research suggests that if teachers can take the time to encourage children to try to approach a problem in a different way - a way that suits them - this can be incredibly beneficial for shifting the student’s mind set. Getting to know your students, their strengths and their interests, can go a long way in making them feel more comfortable with mathematics and can also allow teachers to personalise lessons, engaging students by linking to something they already know and love. Before every lesson I take the time to chat with my students – not about mathematics but about their hobbies, what sports they like and other interests. I can then apply this to what we’re learning; for example, recently we have been covering quadratic functions, and, because half of my students either
