| Ok, how many times have you heard the phrase | | | | until I became a math teacher that my writing |
| "neatness counts"? But as you know simple and | | | | improved. I had a reason to focus because I was |
| common sense advice like this is often hard for many | | | | modeling math solutions to students, my examples had |
| of us to follow and apply. Nevertheless, when it comes | | | | to be clear, understandable and show keys steps. So I |
| to being successful math student neatness is huge. As | | | | buckled down and made a real commitment to be |
| a former middle and high school teacher I can't tell you | | | | neater- it was hard but eventually I created good math |
| how much math work I saw that looked like it was | | | | writing habits and it helped tremendously.o Not writing |
| written in alien language, aka "chicken scratch". Of | | | | enough. To this I say "tell the whole story"! If I had a |
| course many people are convinced that math is | | | | nickel for every time a student just wrote an answer |
| completely and totally an alien language but that's | | | | on their math test with no supporting work I would be |
| another topic all together. The point is that math is a | | | | a rich man! Remember math teachers are like a judge |
| language- one to be written properly so it can be read | | | | jury- they want proof! As math students you have to |
| and understood. | | | | tell a story from start to end...walking the reader |
| Students should view solving a math problem as | | | | (teacher) from problem to solution. A good way to |
| proving a legal case in court. A jury and judge want to | | | | improve your math writing is to try to model how much |
| see a complete step-by-step logical argument to | | | | work your teacher shows when demonstrating math |
| prove a point or result- math teachers are no different. | | | | work on a chalk board or white board. Once more, |
| Math teachers around the world bore their students | | | | with practice and experience you will get better math |
| with the phrase "show your work" this should be | | | | results. By the way a little tip for those of you |
| interpreted as "prove your case". So, let me describe 3 | | | | interested in getting more points on your math test- the |
| big math habits that get students into trouble.o Writing | | | | more work you show the better your chances of |
| too small. To this I say increase the font size dude! I | | | | getting partial credit on your math grade; so don't short |
| know many people are concerned about global | | | | change your math grade by not showing work! |
| warming and want to preserve trees and paper but | | | | Years of experience as a math teacher have taught |
| please- feel free to write bigger. Remember your | | | | me that many students struggle in math solely |
| teacher needs to actually be able to see what you're | | | | because they are sloppy. The good news is |
| trying to communicate. Another ironic point here is that | | | | "sloppiness" is a habit that can be changed and |
| many math students get their homework or math test | | | | improved. Math students can really help themselves by |
| back and they can't even read their own work, how | | | | remembering that math is a language to be written |
| many of us ever experienced this?o Sloppy writing. To | | | | clearly so it can be read- trust me not only will your |
| this I say slow it down and try harder. For many years | | | | math skills improve your teacher will be more than be |
| I was a chronic "kind of sloppy math student". It wasn't | | | | happy to thank you by better math grades. |