Learning skills and remembering facts in mathematics are important but they are only the means to an end. Facts and skills are not important in themselves. They are important when we need them to solve a problem. Students will remember facts and skills easily when they use them to solve real problems. As well as using mathematics to solve real-life problems, students should also be taught about the different parts of mathematics, and how they fit together.

Mathematics can be taught using a step-by-step approach to a topic but it is important to show that many topics are linked. It is also important to show students that mathematics is done all over the world.

Teaching Methods in the Mathematics Classroom

This manual is all about the different ways you can teach a topic in the classroom. As you know, students learn things in many different ways. They don’t always learn best by sitting and listening to the teacher. Students can learn by:

·         Practising skills on their own

·         Discussing mathematics with each other

·         Playing mathematical games

·         Doing puzzles

·         Doing practical work

·         Solving problems

·         Finding things out for themselves.

In the classroom, students need opportunities to use different ways of learning. Using a range of different ways of learning has the following benefits:

·         It motivates students

·         It improves their learning skills

·         It provides variety

·         It enables them to learn things more quickly.

In this particular manual, we will look at some active methods of teaching Mathematics in relation to some selected topics of Grade 9 Mathematics.

About the Manual

This manual is not simply a collection of teaching ideas and activities. It describes an approach to teaching and learning mathematics. It also includes some teaching notes based on the currently revised Grade 9 National Mathematics curriculum. This manual can be best used as part of an approach to teaching using a plan or scheme of work to guide your teaching. It can also be used as a resource to help you with ideas for developing activities and selecting teaching methods to meet the needs of all pupils and to raise standards of achievement. Keep in mind that this manual can’t replace the teacher’s guide that accompanies the Grade 9 Mathematics student textbook. But, it will be a supplementary guide to those teachers who would wish to use it.

Key Features of the Manual

The topics are selected from six of the seven units of Grade 9 Mathematics curriculum. At the beginning of each topic, the competences of the topic are written to remind you about what you will expect from your students after teaching the specific topic. The methods suggested here in this manual are just suggestions and shall not be taken as prescriptions in any way. Selected teaching notes are also given using variety of examples. At the end of each topic, some exercises are given for you to practice and then give them to your students.