Top10Concernsof

MathTeachers
IssuesandConcernsforMathTeachers
ByMelissaKelly

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While all curriculum areas share some of the same issues and
concerns, individual curriculum areas seem to also have
concerns specific to them and their courses. This list looks at
the top ten concerns for math teachers.

1.PrerequisiteKnowledge
Math curriculum often builds on information learned in
previous years. If a student does not have the required
prerequisite knowledge, then a math teacher is left with the
choice of either remediation or forging ahead and covering
material the student might not understand.

2.ConnectionstoRealLife
Consumer math is easily connected to daily lief. However, it
can often be hard for students to see the connection between
their lives and geometry, trigonometry, and even basic
algebra. When students do not see why they have to learn a
topic, this impacts their motivation and retention.

3.CheatingIssues
Unlike courses where students have to write essays or create
detailed reports, math is often reduced to solving problems.
It can be difficult for a math teacher to determine if students
are cheating. Typically, math teachers use wrong answers
and incorrect solving methods to determine if students did,
in fact, cheat.

4.Kidswith"MathBlocks"
Some students have come to believe over time that they are
"just not good at math." This type of attitude can result in
students not even trying to learn certain topics. Fighting this
self esteem related issue can be difficult indeed.

5.VaryingInstruction
The teaching of mathematics does not lend itself to a great
amount of varied instruction. While teachers can have
students present material, work in small groups for certain
topics, and create multimedia projects dealing with math,
the norm of a math classroom is direct instruction followed

by a period of solving problems.

6.DealingWithAbsences
When a student misses a math class at key instructional
points, it can be difficult for them to catch up. For example, if
a student is absent on the first few days when a new topic is
being discussed and explained, a teacher will be faced with
the issue of helping that student learn the material on their
own.

7.GradingConcerns
Math teachers, more than teachers in many other curriculum
areas, need to keep up with the daily grading of assignments.
It does not help a student to have a paper returned a few
weeks after the unit has been completed. Only by seeing
what mistakes they have made and working to correct those
will they be able to use that information effectively.

8.NeedforAfterSchoolTutoring
Math teachers typically have a lot more demands on their
before and after school time from students who are

requesting extra help. This requires a greater dedication on

their part in many ways to help these students understand
and master the topics being learned.

9. Having Students of Different

AbilitiesinClass
Math teachers often have classes with students of varying
ability levels within the same classroom. This might result
from gaps in prerequisite knowledge or each student's
feelings towards their own ability to learn math. Teachers
must decide how to meet the needs of the individual students
in their classrooms.

10.HomeworkIssues
Math curriculum often requires daily practice and review for
mastery. Therefore, the completion of daily homework
assignments is essential to learning the material. Students
who do not complete their homework or who copy from
other students often struggle at test time. Dealing with this
issue is often very difficult for math teachers.