"Teaching mathematics is so frustrating and tiring !". This is a common remark teachers of mathematics normally utter. Teaching mathematics, if not, carried out properly  creates tension and unnecessary anxiety to both teachers and learners. It should not be if a system is created that spells out the objectives at various phases of teaching. Here a system of 6 easy steps to approach teaching mathematics is presented. 

Basically, mathematics is divided into 2 sections. They are the factual and method section. To reap positive outcome in the teaching and learning of mathematics, the 6 easy steps address the objectives of these 2 sections with focus.  

Step 1: (Factual section)
Mathematics consists of numbers, symbols and mathematical expressions. These are facts describing some specific meanings. Here the teachers should allow the learners to relate the facts to each other and better still, to applications of real life. One example is to relate the playground swing to that of an arc (of a circle). The relationship between facts are important for later teaching.

Step 2: (Factual section)
Here the learners of mathematics would be guided to memorise only the important mathematical concepts and facts. Remembering all the facts and concepts within the whole topic taught is detrimental to understanding and may cause confusion later on. Here the teachers play an important role in providing the guidelines.

Step 3: (Method section)
After the learners have understood the necessary facts and mathematical concepts, they would be exposed to 2 crucial stages in this step. First stage is to let the learners do mathematics questions related to the topic taught with the facts and worked examples in front of them for reference. They will practice, by themselves, the questions till the understanding of the steps in solving the questions are clear. This stage address the self-confidence and self-esteem part of human development. The second stage which is more crucial is to keep all the learning materials and practice the mathematics questions of the same standard again. At this stage, the objective is to truly test their understanding of mathematical concepts and approach in solving the questions. They have to do it alone without any help from the teachers or learning materials.

Step 4: (Method section)
Here the teacher will expose the learners to a wider coverage of the mathematics topic. This is to allow the learners to grasp more different relationship between facts and flexible questionings. The teacher has to ensure that in this step the learners are practicing without reference. In this step, the idea is to practice and practice. The old saying that "Practice makes Perfect!" is applied here.

Step 5: (Method section)
Here the teacher would guide the learners who encounter obstacles or problems with advises to allow the learners to pick up skill in self-analysis. From the help or advises given, the learners will look into the part where there may be misunderstood mathematical concepts or wrong factual relation. It is a re-iteration process to generate self-independance by aligning their understanding with the outcome of their solutions. Practice questions will be done again after correction to their understanding has been carried out.

Step 6: (Method section)
As memory fades with times, the teacher has to summarise and review the topics. Practice questions are also done again to refresh the mathematical concepts and facts, together with the steps in solving the mathematics questions.

Good result comes after effort.  With these 6 easy steps of focused objectives, teaching mathematics can be made enjoyable and fun to both the teachers and learners of mathematics. 

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Author: Lim EeHai