Managing mathematics classroom

Tips for teachers

Michael Ymer

 Declutter tables. Only have on the table what is needed for the task.

 Try modeling activities at tables. Perhaps three or four tables placed together while
the students gather around to watch.

 Only model activities when everything is set up on tables. You will have a better
chance of getting through to students if they can start the task within a minute of the
explanation.

 Try drawing diagrams on the whiteboard of how the tables should look with materials
on them. Bird eye view.

 Allow children to collect and return materials. Idle students waiting for monitors can
be difficult to manage.

 Have extra pens, rulers etc. The students who can’t find their pen, ruler etc is often
the difficult to manage or falls behind in his / her work.

 If students appear tired, yawning first thing in the morning, arrange a meeting with
the parents to discuss this problem. Tired students can be very difficult to teach, let
alone manage.

 Consider brain foods, water bottles to help nourish the brain and help concentration.

 Organise your maths materials. Don’t have messy boxes with bits and pieces in them.
Sort, clean and package your materials.

 Have students collect materials from different places around the room to help with
congestion.

 Ensure that all students can experience some success in every lesson.

 Provide different entry and exit points for activities planned.

 Display enthusiasm when teaching maths. It’s infectious.

 Use the same type of book as the students use to model activities. Date the pages and
write notes for future reference.

 Have maths dictionaries accessible.

 Use different grouping approaches depending on lesson content.

 Have students teach each other skills they have learnt.