The document discusses the qualities of a good mathematics textbook. It states that a good textbook should stimulate reflective thinking, present real learning situations, and not promote rote learning. It then lists several key qualities under physical features, author, content, organization, language, exercises, and general qualities. A good textbook needs qualified authors, age-appropriate language, accurate illustrations, well-graded exercises, and up-to-date content organized logically from simple to complex. While textbooks are important, good teachers are also needed to guide students' understanding of mathematics.

1. ONLINE ASSIGNMENT
PREPARED & SUBMITTED BY
JASMIN. J
OPTION: MATHEMATICS
KUCTE, ARYAD
2013-2014

3. INTRODUCTION
The mathematics textbook is an important source for learning mathematics and it plays a
key role in effective teaching and learning. A textbook should stimulate reflective thinking and
develop problem-solving ability among students. The textbooks should present real learning
situations, which are challenging and interesting for the students and should not render itself as
a means of rote learning.
Text books and teachers’ guides occupy a unique place in the teaching learning process. Text
book are an indispensable part of primary and secondary education. The text book is a teaching
instrument. It is not only a source of information, but a course of study, a set of unit plans and
learning guide. It helps to revise and reinforce the language material already taught. In the
absence of any other instructional material, the text book becomes a potent tool in the hand of
a teacher to teach the skill of a language and the more so of a foreign language.

4. QUALITIES OF A GOOD MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOK
The qualities of a good textbook in mathematics can be broadly classified under the following
heads.
 Physical Features
 Author
 Content
 Organization and Presentations
 Language
 Exercise and Illustration
 General
1. Physical Features:
 Paper: the paper used in the textbook should be of superior quality.
 Binding: it should have quality strong and durable binding.
 Printing: it should have quality printing, bold font and easily readable font.
 Size: bulky and thick. It should be handy.
 Cover: it should have an appealing and attractive cover page.
2. Author:
 Qualified author should write it.
 Experienced teacher should write it.
 Competent teachers should write it.
 It should be written by committee of experts constituted by the state government.
 For the authors, certain minimum academic and professional qualifications may be
prescribed.

5. 3. Content:
 It should be child centered.
 The subject matter should be arranged from simple to complex and concrete to abstract.
 The subject matter should create interest in the pupil.
 It should be objective oriented.
 It should be written according to prescribed syllabus.
 It should satisfy the demands of examination.
 The answers given at the end of each section should be correct.
 It should include the recent developments in the mathematics relating to the content
dealt with.
 Oral mathematics should fine its due place in the textbook.
4. Organization and Presentation:
 It should provide for individual differences.
 There should be sufficient provision for revision, practice and review.
 It should stimulate the initiative and originality of the students.
 It should offer suggestion to improve study habits.
 It should facilitate the use of analytic, synthetic, inductive, deductive, problem solving
and heuristic approaches to teaching.
 Content should be organized in a psychological consideration.
 Content should be organized in a logical way.
 It should suggesting project work, fieldwork and laboratory work.

6. 5. Language:
 The language used in the textbook should be simple and easily understandable and within
the grasp of the pupils.
 The style and vocabulary used should be suitable to the age group of student for whom
the book is written.
 The term and symbols used must be those, which are popular and internationally
accepted.
 It should be written in lucid, simple, precise and scientific language.
6. Exercise and Illustrations:
 The illustrations should be accurate.
 The illustrations should be clear and appropriate.
 It should contain some difficult problems.
 It should contain exercises to challenge the mathematically gifted students.
 There should be well-graded exercises given at the end of every topic.
 The exercise should develop thinking and reasoning power of the pupils.
7. General:
 At the end of book there should be tables and appendices.
 The textbook should be of latest edition with necessary modifications.
 The book should be moderate price and readily available in the market.
 It should be written in accordance with the aims and objectives of teaching the subject
in that particular class.
 There should be diagram and figures wherever needed.
 It should be free from mistakes.
 It should provide sufficient materials to motivate students to solve problems.

7.  The students should get adequate opportunity of learning through initiative and
independent efforts.
 The problems should relate to the real life needs and physical & social environments of
the learners.
 It should foster the right attitude towards self-study and self-reliance among pupils and it
should be done by promoting project works, field works and laboratory works.
 It should promote the use of analytic, synthetic, inductive-deductive, problem-solving
and heuristic approaches to teaching.
 The content should be up-to-date.
 It should aim of all level of students. It should be challenging for intelligent students and
should give opportunity for average & below average students also.
 It should satisfy individual difference in students and should meet the varying abilities,
interests and attitudes.
 It should promote logical and psychological arrangement of contents.
 It should provide for practice, revision and satisfy the demands of exam.

8. CONCLUSION
In spite of the good qualities of a textbook, mastering in math is possible for almost
every student, only if they are blessed with a good math teacher to guide whenever needed.
And they can very well master in math if they get the right home work help at the right time.
Every teacher of mathematics uses a textbook. An average teacher uses it as “his stock in
hand” but a good teacher uses it as “a helper”. The textbook that is considered “as store house
of basics information” can facilitate a teacher to do wonder in his subject.
The textbook should not be used as the only source of instructional material. It should be
used as an aid in teaching.
REFERENCES
 http://anitaalwin.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/essentials-of-a-good-mathematics-textbook/
 http://www.heinemann.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=51
 http://wheresthemath.com/curriculum-reviews/benefits-of-a-good-textbook/