Mathematics is not only Calculations

BATHMASREE NAGENDRARAO
School Improvement Specialist Coaches Plus (SISC+)
PPD PETALING PERDANA, SHAH ALAM
What is Mathematics?
 According to Wikipedia in
English, in the July 2017 version,
the answer to “What is
Mathematics?” is
“Mathematics is the abstract study
of topics such as quantity
(numbers), structure, space, and
change.”
Mathematics vs Calculations
Calculations?
 a mathematical determination of the
amount or number of something.
 synonyms: computation, reckoning,
adding up, counting up, working out,
determining, figuring, estimation,
estimate;
 sum; totalling up, an assessment of the
risks, possibilities, or effects of a
situation or course of action.
CURRENT ISSUES
 CURRENT ISSUES
 Math class can be a traumatic experience,
and for whatever reason, people tie math
closely to intelligence. Many people think if
you’re smart, you can do math and, if you’re
not smart, you cannot.
-Chris Ozarka , 2015
 How to overcome this?
Based on issues, what would you say
is the top reason?
Are there too many math standards?
Do students not have the ability?
Are teachers to blame?
Is math not for everyone?
TOOLS IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS
 Object Construction  Approximation
 Classification  Drawing
 Comparison  Deduction from Data
 Ordering  Reasoning
 Pattern Recognition  Description
 Prediction  Interpretation
 Generalization  Real Life Situation
 Completing the Data

En. Mohd Suhaimi Ramly – (KMTC 2014)

TASK 1
TASK 2
How to overcome …These Isues..
1. As teachers should NOT be “tellers”.

2. Another attribute of what a good teacher does NOT

look like includes teaching students exactly how to do a
certain type of problem and then giving them the same
problem over and over with different numbers.

3. As math teachers, we tend to focus on what to teach

rather than how to teach it.
How to overcome …These Isues..
4. One of the biggest gripes I have about tests like the ACT
is they are timed and more focused on calculations than
actual thinking. (Maths ≠ Race)

5. With the ubiquity of the information due to the

advancements of technology, memorizing facts, formulas,
and equations has become more and more obsolete.
(Math ≠ Memorizing Algorithms)
So what we need to change now?
1. Always inform Students in classroom on How
Learning Works

2. Ditch the In-Class Lecture and Focus on Self-Paced

and Collaborative Learning

3. Be Inspiring and Informative with Feedback

(As Grant Wiggins said, “Learners need endless feedback more
than they need endless teaching.”)
So what we need to change now?
4. Focus on Students Actively Creating their Own
Understanding Collaboratively

5. Differentiate

6. Make Sure Students are Making Mistakes (when learning,

not summative assessments)
Conclusion
 Teaching mathematics this way is rewarding, exhausting,
and completely necessary.
 The world is changing more now than it ever has.
 We need logic thinkers, creators, and modellers of
abstract ideas and concepts.
 Mathematics provides an excellent way of promoting
those skills.
 We, as teachers, need to make sure we teach- focus on
Critical Thinking than only Calculations
THANK YOU
The complete presentation will be shared on
www.kangaroomath.com.my after the conference