Usaha Guru dalam Meningkatkan Minat Siswa Mempelajari Matematika

By : Drs. Marsigit MA

Reviewed by: Fifi Yuniarti

Mathematics subjects are not much liked by the students at the school. Most of the students at school should feel afraid of the math subjects. Therefore, it is necessary to the efforts of teachers to be able to make mathematical subjects into subjects that are not scary and not scary but it is a subject of interest by students at the school.

But apparently there are some obstacles that hinder the teachers in an effort to increase students' interest towards mathematics courses. Some of these constraints, among others, the meaning of mathematical theories that are less well understood by students and teachers, the difficulties the students and teachers about how to apply mathematical theories in everyday life, studying the existing system that sometimes does not support or less support in learning mathematics, the environmental conditions that are less supportive, and also used in the learning facilities inadequate.
In addition to some constraints experienced by teachers, teachers also have some difficulties in its efforts to increase students' interest towards mathematics courses.

Some of the difficulties these teachers, among others, teachers sometimes have difficulty in dealing with students 'mathematical skills are different, the difficulty in encouraging and improving students' activeness in teaching and learning activities, difficulties in developing mathematics learning of existing technologies, as well as the achievement target NEM very high and the completion of the syllabus within a specified period.

Therefore we need the efforts of teachers to improve students' motivation to learn mathematics. Effort to increase student motivation, among others, teachers provide a fun learning system, teachers create a classroom atmosphere that supports learning mathematics, teachers must consider the preferences of students, teachers provide learning activities to students in accordance with the purpose of learning mathematics, and teachers appreciate the or achievement of the students in learning mathematics.

In an effort to increase students' interest towards the subjects of mathematics, teachers also need to allow and supervise so that students learn in their own way because each student has a way of learning different speeds in the absorbing material also varies, and each student also has a background different both in terms of economic, social and cultural rights. Therefore, teachers must know the strengths and weaknesses of each student and to plan learning activities appropriate to students' ability level.

Some business teachers in an effort to increase students interest towards other subjects are math teachers give students opportunities to learn independently and work in groups, terchers gave students the opportunity to exchange ideas between students that one with other students, teachers involve students in decision making about teaching and learning activities that will be done, the teacher gives the facility or props are required of students in learning mathematics, teachers enhance student understanding that learning mathematics can be done in various places and occasions, and used in a variety of everyday purposes related to mathematics.