Strategies of teaching mathematics: Drill work, Home work, Oral work & Written work

1. Strategies of Teaching
Mathematics:
Drill work, Home work, Oral
work & Written work
Dr. G. Jaganmohana Rao
Faculty of Education
MITE, Kohima

2. Introduction:
There are some strategies of teaching Mathematics like Drill-work,
Home-work, Oral-work, Written-work, etc. Which help the learner in
constructing their knowledge.
The purpose of these strategies is to make teaching- learning
more interactive as well as effective. You can select a particular strategy
based on the needs of learners as well as its relevance to the content.
Some strategies of teaching learning Mathematics are as follows:

3. Drill work:
Drill is one of the most essential ways (or methods) of learning in
mathematics. The controlling purpose of all teaching activity is to reduce
necessary learning to habit. Gaining mastery requires acquisition of
habits, hence drill/practice plays an important role in acquiring mastery.
A certain amount of formal drill is inevitable, preference should be
given to functional or meaningful drill. Meaningful drill implies prior
understanding of content and its appropriate application. This drill is
purposeful and is determined by need as well as by use.

4. An effective drill lesson should be organized keeping in view
the following considerations:
Drill should follow learning and understanding of basics. It should not
encourage rote memorization without understanding the subject
matter.
Drill should be varied. Some routine procedures make learning
monotonous and uninteresting.
Drill should be individualized and rewarding to each learner. Each
learner should see its purpose and utility.
Drill periods should be short and the learner’s achievement should be
frequently tested.
Drill should not be planned merely to keep learners “busy”. It should
be based upon thought-provoking situations to avoid the repetition of
any process mechanically.
Drill may also provide diagnostic information about learners.

5. Importance of Drill work:
 It develops confidence and a sense of achievement in the students.
 In drill work learned material can be retained for a long time.
 This technique of learning is good for beginners.
 It develops speed and accuracy in the learning of mathematics.
 With the help of this technique memory of the child can be checked.
Disadvantages of Drill work:
• This technique of teaching is not suitable for all topics.
• Drills are not effective when students are not prepared enough.
• Drill work creates disturbance in other classes.
How to make Drill Effective:
Drill work should be an interesting affair and not become unpleasant and
boring.
It should be brief and distributed over a period of time.
In this work, the student should be given sufficient opportunity and proper
atmosphere.

6. Home work:
Homework refers to tasks assigned to learners by their teachers to
be completed outside the class. The purpose of homework is to
encourage learners to review, apply, practice and integrate what he/she
has learnt in the classroom.
Homework has to be given regularly to provide for application and
practice and to supplement classroom teaching. It provides an
opportunity for learners to make, discover, and correct mistakes so that
they can learn from them. It is intended to engage learners in
exploration of concept beyond the class time. It helps learners in long
lasting learning and preparing for the next class.

7. Importance of Homework:
• It supplements the classroom teaching.
• It utilizes the leisure time of the child, otherwise, the child will waste it
in gossiping and playing.
• It develops a habit of regularity and hard working. It brings a closer
relationship between the parents and the school.
• It develops a habit of self-study in children.
Disadvantages of Homework:
 It can destroy curiosity and love of learning in the learner.
 Some students develop tensions because of homework
 It does not provide suitable conditions for work.

8. Oral work:
Oral work helps each child work at the optimum rate which insures
maximum accuracy for him. In any lesson, both oral and written
(especially when modern practice or work books are used), work should
mingle freely. Oral work provides a rapid drill designed to habituate a
fundamental process, a mode of thinking, or a set of facts. It helps in
completing more work in any given period.
It is the work which is done “ORALLY” without the help of “Written
Work” and “Record”. It can be defined as “MENTAL WORK”, where in a
problem is solved “Orally”, or “Mentally”, without the use of pen and
paper.

9. Importance of oral work:
 It is the backbone of not only written work but also overall works in the
Mathematics.
 It develops mental alertness and quick thinking.
 It is a good technique because it develops alertness, the readiness of mind,
quick hearing and quick thinking.
 It may be effective in the initial stages.
 It is an effective means of maintaining discipline in the class.
 Previous knowledge of the student can be checked properly before teaching
the new lesson.
 It helps in diagnosing the difficulties and doubts of students.
Disadvantages of oral work:
• In oral work learned material cannot be retained for a long time
• All problems cannot be solved verbally.
• It develops a habit of self-study in children.

10. Written work:
In Mathematics all the work cannot be done orally. Therefore oral work
must be supplemented by the written work. It helps the teacher to know the
amount of work done by his students.
Importance of Written work:
 Written work is helpful to solve lengthy problems in mathematics.
 It helps in testing the knowledge imparted orally.
 In this technique of teaching mathematics, mistakes can be checked
properly. It diminishes the chances of mistakes.
 This technique of teaching mathematics is quite helpful in the mental
development of the student.
Disadvantages of Written work:
• It is time consuming and laborious technique of teaching mathematics.
• This teaching technique is not suitable for beginners. Beginners can learn
effectively by Drill work and oral work.

11. Thanking You…