Teaching Of Mathematics Essay

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Mathematics has been viewed as a very important aspect in understanding

the world because it is a systematic application of matter. It can be defined as the

power of a person to concretize a mathematical idea in myriad ways and to make

linkages among various representations. Specific qualities that are nurtured by

Mathematics are the ability to reason out, create, think abstractly and spatially,

solve problems and even nurture the power to communicate effectively.

Mathematical ideas become concrete when people can express them exactly as how

it is conceived in the mind. Communication needs that the abstraction of ideas be

external, taking from spoken language, written symbols, drawings or real objects

(Ashcraft, 1982; Greeno, …show more content…

Society and groups should

be educated on the need to support mother tongue initiatives in the teaching of

mathematics. Mother tongue in the teaching of Mathematics should be extended to

post primary and tertiary institution so as to increase the numbers of mathematics

learners in schools .

On the other hand, according to Mashegoane (2016), the inability of

hundreds of languages around the world who do not have direct translations of

core scientific and mathematical terms is a hindrance for students to face the real

world, and apply their knowledge, resulting in them being globally incompetent.

The obstacle is the absence of certain terminology in many languages compared to

English. The underlying implication is that it is the language barrier preventing

students from excelling in Math and Science. It is sickening that learners who need

to be taught of English, Mathematics and Science but these subjects are introduced

in Grade IV where the learners have to switch to Math in English; even when many

of them have not yet mastered basic numbers, addition and subtraction, even

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