Mathematic is mysterious..while some find ot challenging and exciting, others may find it a bore and scary!. What influences these extreme feeling that diffferent individues experiences? Is it true that only certain type people are good at mathematics..? Are those people who are good in mathematics gifted? So what has gone wrong for people who are always hopelessly confuse with simple mathematicsl ideas?
Students who like mathematics enjoy the challenge and likes to dwell on its symbols and ideas. I used to get thrilled when i could solve all exercises or homework given. The achievement of getting good marks in mathematics somehow eventually becomes ones status quo in school...closely guided so that no one can beat you! Those that lag behind usually never catches up and ends up as freak in maths...
Teachers factors to me is another important variable.. a good teacher explain asbtract concept well and clearly,while some may just grapple with the ideas leaving lots of confusing ideas among the students..drillling students with endless exercises is not the solution to mastery of mathematical ideas for this mechanical actions can be very damaging to students long term learning..the difficulities with conceptual teaching is students usually can be irritatingly impatient and want a quick way out..hence they normally are more interested in what shall be assessed!Test..Exam! included in test or not..? these are questions that can be annoying.
In secondary school i have this great math teacher, Encik Ismail. He explains well and kept challenging us with various questions that he expected we are able to do once he briefly explain the main concepts.. we were so nervous when he started picking on students to finish the exercise on board..but then again he would smile at us when we successfully solved the questions. He was always there even in the afternoon to help us out.. you were one Great Teacher.
I took extra classes for my additional mathematics once a week in form five to prepare for my SPM. Another Malay male teacher from another school taught me.Cant remember his name now. He was so enthuasistic that it catches on us. . I met him last year..wearing kupiah and sarung. AT the age of sixty he is still teaching mathematics..in his own tuition class..wow..He was beeming widely when i approach him and say -Thank you sir for the knowledge that you have imparted to me so sincerely and so well.
I will always remember them.May God Bless Them.
