1. INTRODUCTION
Teacher must be aware of the individual differences that exist
among the students whatever may be the subject; teachers are
to take into account such individual differences to make their
teaching appropriate to the abilities, interest and needs of the
learners. This is more so in the case of mathematics. There are
wide variations in ability ranging from the academically gifted
to the very unintelligent. Broadly speaking, students may be
classified as gifted children, slow learners, and low achiever and
under achiever.
“Slow learner is a child who is unable to cope with the work
normally expected of his age group” – BURT.
2. DATA ANALYSIS
Slow learner is one who compared with the other pupils
of the same age shows marked educational deficiency.
The IQ of slow learner usually ranges from 70 to 90.
These children are unable to deal successfullywith
abstract materials. Their reasoning ability is inferior to
that of normal child.
CHARACTERISTICSOF SLOW LEARNER IN MATHEMATICS
Although there are many possible exceptions to any
given pattern the following might be listed as the
characteristics of the slow learner.
i) A slow learner level of intelligence usuallywill be
low.
ii) Has little drive to excel in his learning activity.
iii) Has short span of attention.
iv) Has weak association memory.
v) Is a poor reader.
vi) Has difficulty with abstractideas.
vii) Is not logical in thinking.
viii) Lack of imagination.
3. ix) Is unable to detect his own errors.
x) Has only limited power to quickly form linkage of
ideas and identify errors.
xi) Is not creative in his thinking.
CAUSES AND REMEDIES
i) Physical causes
Slowness in learning may be due to physical causes
such as poor eye sight, hearing defect or any other
physical ailment which do not allow the child to
concentrate on study.
Remedy of all these causes lies with the
physician or doctor.
ii) Mental disability
The mental disability may be inborn or caused by
environmentalfactors. Generally such children
may have low IQ, mental conflict, inferiority feeling
and feeling of insecurity.
Many of these mental disorders can be
successfullytackled by a competent teacher with
concerted effort.
4. iii) Lack of facilities at home
When the child does not have adequatetime and
facilities for learning at home, it may lead to slow
learning.
The teacher can help such students by arranging
supervised study, where the child can learn under
the supervision of the teacher. In this connection
the teacher can seek the help of the gifted child.
iv) Lack of interest
The slowness may be due to distastefor the
subject, which may be natural or acquired. This
could lead to an unfavorable disposition towards
learning mathematics.
The teacher has to develop in the students a
positive attitude towards the subject through
patience and persistence.
v) Irregular study habit
Mathematics is a subject of logical sequence.
Therefore, a studentwith irregular study habits
will find it hard to identify the mathematical laws
and principles.
5. Drill work and review also could help them to
improve the speed of performance.
vi) The teacher’s indifferences
Many a time mathematics teachers become
impatient and show indifference to the slow
learners who are slow in grasping mathematical
ideas and concepts. This could result in frustration
among the slow learners.
The remedy of this is the teacher should take
more interestin the slow learner and understand
their level of learning. This will definitely boostthe
self confidence of slow learner.
vii) Ineffective methods of teaching
The group method of teaching are not very
effective for the slow learners because their rate of
learning, level of achievement are not some as
that of slow learners.
In the case of slow learner method of
individualized instruction liked programmed
instruction. CAI and use of learning packages are
more effective.
6. CONCLUSION
Slow learners are one their educational attainment
falls below the level of their natural abilities. The
teacher should also give individual attention to the
slow learners in clarifying their doubts and in
stimulating their activities. Adequatedrill and
practice with equal stress in speed and accuracy
can enhance the proficiency in fundamentalskills
while review and more relevant learning
experience can make the basic concepts clear for
the students. This will help them work fast.
Moreover the teacher has to insist on neatness
in work legibility in hand writing, accuracy in
copying the numbers and placing the number
digits are also helpful to improve their speed and
accuracy in doing mathematical works.
REFERENCE
1) Dr. Sivarajan; mathematics education.
