This document outlines the qualities of a good mathematics textbook. It discusses 7 key qualities: 1) physical features like paper quality, binding, printing and size; 2) qualifications of authors; 3) content that is child-centered, logically organized, and aligned to curriculum; 4) organization and presentation that facilitates different learning approaches; 5) use of clear and simple language; 6) inclusion of accurate illustrations and well-graded exercises; and 7) general qualities like price, availability, and alignment to educational aims. Overall, a good textbook aids teaching but should not be the only instructional material, and mastering mathematics ultimately depends on having a good teacher.

1. U N I T V – R E S O U R C E S F O R T E A C H I N G
M A T H E M A T I C S
I year B.Ed - core 7(a)
Pedagogy of Mathematics
QUALITIES OF GOOD MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOK
Victoria Michael
Pedagogy of Mathematics
20EDM53

2. P R E P A R E D B Y ,
V I C T O R I A M I C H A E L
2 0 E D M 5 3
Qualities of good Mathematics
textbook

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.

4. QUALITIES OF A GOOD
MATHEMATICS TEXTBOOK
 The qualities of a good textbook in mathematics
can be broadly classified under the following
heads:-
1. Physical Features
2. Author
3. Content
4. Organization and Presentations
5. Language
6. Exercise and Illustration
7. General

5. 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.

6. Examples for
Cover page
Handy
Font

7. 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.

8. Textbooks by great authors

9. 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.

10. 3. Content:
 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 find its due place in
the textbook.

11. Content page

12. 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.

13. Exercise and answers

14. 4. Organization and Presentation
 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.

15. Psychological content

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Tables and charts

20. 7. General
 It should be free from mistakes.
 It should provide sufficient materials to
motivate students to solve problems.
 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.

21. 7. General
 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.

22. 7. General
 It should aim 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.

23. Activities

24. 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.

25. EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
 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.

26. THANK YOU