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Principles for School Mathematics

The ubiquity and importance of Mathematics in every facet of our lives is undeniable. From measuring distances to computing revenue-expense to calculating risks and viabilities, we use mathematical concepts to find quantitative answers.

That is why it is important for teachers, like you, to arm your students with the best mathematics education possible.

According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, there are six Principles for School Mathematics upon which your teaching should be based on. They are the following:¹

1. Equity
   Students, regardless of race, economic condition, or physical challenges, must have access to a comprehensive and good mathematics curriculum from proficient mathematics teachers.
   Advanced students may need a more challenging curriculum to properly nurture their potentials while students who are having difficulty may benefit from additional mentoring or after-school tutorial programs.

2. Curriculum
   More than just a lineup of topics, the subjects of the curriculum should be coherent and should build on one another in order for students to have a deeper understanding of its concepts and relationships.
   The curriculum should also focus on important concepts that will prepare them for continued study and for solving problems in a variety of home or school settings.

3. Teaching
   As students learn through your teaching, you, as mathematics teachers, must have profound knowledge and understanding of the subject. Engage yourself in continual learning to ensure your lessons are correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date.
   As there is no one way to teach the subject, you must select and use appropriate teaching strategies and tools, based on your students’ interests and needs.

4. Learning
   More than teaching factual knowledge, help your students learn mathematics with understanding. By knowing when, where, or how to use mathematical concepts, they become independent learners and can take the learning outside of the classroom environment.

5. Assessment
   More than knowing how your students fared at the end of each lesson, you should use assessments tools to know more about your students and to gauge the effectiveness of your teaching strategies.
   Because different students learn and provide feedback in different ways, evaluations should not be limited to one strategy or tool. Continually look for ways to understand your students better – be it through tests, recitations, interviews, or class activities.

6. Technology
   With today’s technology, higher learning is all the more possible. More importantly, it allows students with special needs to learn.
   As teachers, teach your students in responsibly using technology to learn mathematical concepts.

In today’s world, students with better knowledge and understanding of mathematics will have better career opportunities in the future. As NCTM stated in their website, “Mathematical competence opens doors to productive futures. A lack of mathematical competence closes those doors.” ²

Be guided by the Six Principles for School Mathematics to ensure your students will have a better chance at tomorrow.

Source:

^1-2n.a. (n.d.) Retrieved October 3, 2007 from http://standards.nctm.org/