Difficulties in teaching mathematics in the Arab sector in Israel

Abstract

The fundamental subject behind various professions is Mathematics. Learning and teaching mathematics are complex tasks. An effective communication between the student and the teacher is essential to implement these tasks. A proper language, symbolism and technical vocabulary is essential for realizing the basics of instructions in mathematics. There are many difficulties faced by the students in learning mathematics such as; complexities with abstract direction and time concepts, mistakes like recalling, reading and writing numbers, reversals, omissions, transpositions, substitutions and additions. This paper of research has been designed to identify the existing difficulties faced by the students in learning mathematics and recommend some solutions and changes in the education practice, which could be made in mathematics teaching for the students. The research study encapsulates a questionnaire, which comprise of 14 teachers of mathematics and 200 students were chosen at random from the Arab sector in Israel. Both open-ended and closed ended questions were present in the questionnaire, which was designed for the proposed research. Some of the common difficulties encountered by the students in learning mathematics is identified in the present scenario and also the perceptions of the teachers about the mathematical difficulties faced by students were identified and recommendations were made finally, which were contemplated on the learning strategies and the beliefs of the students.