Mrs Birgitta Okodugha, former Chairman of Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN), Edo chapter, has advocated the use of modern methods of teaching Mathematics, to enhance understanding of the subject.
Okodugha , a Mathematics teacher at Asoro Grammer School, Benin, made the advocacy in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin on Sunday.
The two-time chairman of MAN urged Mathematics teachers to attend workshops and seminars regularly to improve their knowledge and methods of teaching the subject.
She said that some students were scared of Mathematics because of the way some teachers taught the subject.
She said such teachers failed to attend workshops and seminars on modern ways of teaching the subjects but stuck to the outdated methods.
Okodugha who will be honoured as a Fellow of MAN on Tuesday, said students should be made to be excited and relaxed during mathematics classes.
The former chairman said making students to be relaxed in during Mathematics lessons would increase their level of interest and understanding.
“A mathematics teacher should always warm up the students each time he/she enters the classroom.
“He or she could do this by making the students sing a song or do some recitation such as reciting multiplication table.
I make my students clap their hands and dance as they do the recitation; by doing so they are excited and at the same time while learning a particular task,” she said.
She added that students should be allowed to participate in the lesson because they were the ones who needed the knowledge and not the teacher.
“For example, if you are teaching shapes, let the children construct the shapes rather than you drawing them on the board.
“By doing so, they will understand the dimensions of the shapes.
“Also, give the students work to do at home. Share them into groups to carry out tasks. They learn better through collaboration.
“Students should carry out their assignments and do presentation in the classroom,” she added.