A lot of Students hate Math and it is a given that they will hate Geometry as well. They think numbers, shapes and equations are difficult and hard to compute. It is our job to keep them engaged and eager to learn. Use interactive geometry teaching techniques to get through to them.
You are often left scratching your head about how you can make numbers sound more interesting. You want to know how to make ‘the distance formula’ fun. The best teaching method to get them to enjoy Geometry is interactive learning.
It is hard for the students to keep staring at the chalkboard everyday all day. They get distracted easily and the chalkboard offers no interactive opportunity to exercise their brain. They are seeing things in a two-dimensional frame and want to know how they will ever use the problems in real life.
The best way to answer this question is to involve real life problems in the classroom and show them they use geometry in their daily lives. Here are 3 ways to do this with any lesson!
1.) 3-D Learning
3-D does not imply that you have to use a computer. You simply have to give them things they can touch. For example, have them take out their phones and use the built in GPS systems to find the ‘distance’ from their house to the school. Then lead them into using the distance formula. Now, obviously I just used a pretty simple example. However, every lesson in Geometry has a real world application. Find ways to get them to put their hands on something. Leave them wondering “why are we doing this?” Then lead them into the lesson. This small change will make a huge difference. What is the change? Lead them through the real world example before teaching them the lesson. Them touching and doing will get them engaged and leave them a memorable event from the lesson.
2.) Group Learning
You might think that putting children together in groups is a nuisance but this method has the best rate success among types of interactive learning. Just make sure that you divide the children into groups that will play off of their abilities. Pair a good student with a weak student. The Peer Effect is a healthy way to learn. Students see the teacher as a figure of authority. They fear you and that’s why you find it difficult getting your point through to them. When you put them in groups and have them solve a problem, they interact in terms that are more familiar to them. They talk in a casual way which is more understandable to each other. They formulate solutions together and help one another understand and solve the problems. This helps them in understanding problems in various ways and feel involved in the classroom.
3.) Interactive Assessments
When it’s time to test your students, try to be more creative than a pencil and paper. Try to make the assessments better by giving them real problems to solve. You want them to tell you how to calculate the perimeter and area? Then take them to the football field and tell them to calculate the area of the entire field. Give them milk cartons and tell them to calculate the surface area and volume of the carton. That includes breaking down the milk carton in triangles and squares and they can calculate the shapes separately, adding them at the end. Set timed incentive based tasks to complete for assessments. Add incentives like additional mark on the finals or a gold star or candy. Incentives helps the students to achieve their goals and keeps them motivated. Doesn’t have to be anything big. Students love to compete, let them!
