Introduction:
One of the most valuable lessons a student can learn in life is perseverance. As educators, we have a responsibility to instill this essential skill into our students’ minds and daily lives. In math class, a subject with varying degrees of difficulty and complexity, teaching perseverance can be crucial to a student’s success. Here are five tried-and-tested ways to teach perseverance in math class.
1. Embrace Challenge:
Encourage students to tackle difficult math problems and praise their efforts, regardless of the end result. Emphasizing the importance of tackling challenging tasks helps build confidence and strengthens their problem-solving skills. Teach them that there is no such thing as a “math person” and that everyone can learn and grow with practice.
2. Foster Growth Mindset:
Promote a growth mindset by praising effort over talent. Emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes and overcoming countless trials on the way to success. When students struggle, remind them it’s just an indication that their brain is growing stronger.
3. Create a Safe Learning Environment:
Establish a classroom culture where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, asking questions, and admitting they don’t understand something without fear of judgment or ridicule. Encourage collaboration among peers as they solve mathematical tasks together, allowing open communication that leads to breakthroughs.
4. Provide Scaffolding:
When students face complex math problems or concepts, offer guidance by breaking tasks into small manageable steps for them to follow systematically. Provide support as needed but gradually reduce assistance along the way, helping encourage independent problem-solving skills.
5. Celebrate Progress and Setbacks:
Teach students the importance of celebrating progress, not just success at the end goal. Acknowledge small victories along the way and ensure your learners understand that setbacks are part of learning – even skilled mathematicians face challenges! Encourage reflection on how they’ve grown throughout each process.
Conclusion:
Incorporating these techniques into your math classroom will not only boost student achievement but also foster a sense of perseverance that students will carry with them in all areas of life. The ability to persist through challenges, even when they seem insurmountable, is a skill that will help our students excel well beyond the walls of the math classroom.
