Feasibility of Using Poetry in a Textmasters’ Environment to Teach Mathematics to Secondary School Students

Abstract

Most Nigerian students, do exhibit phobia for mathematics and its related disciplines because of its abstract and wired nature. Poetry being one of the genres of literature has its peculiarity of lyrical entertainment. Textmasters strategy establishes collaborative learning environment of literature circles in content areas. Students in textmasters are placed in groups of four with the roles of Discussion Director, Summarizer, Vocabulary Enrincher and Webmaster. They are often given a schedule of the reading of the upcoming chapter. All the students read the same section of the book, but usually complete a role sheet to guide their perspectives: Reading aloud of any entertaining and informative poems normally spark students’ interest in posing and solving mathematics problems through textmasters.  For example, while reading aloud, the students are actively involved and constantly comment on how the poems connect to mathematics, especially how they describe and illustrate the concepts, in this instance, simple interest.. This paper, proposes the feasibility of using poetry to teach mathematics in a textmasters’ environment. It tries to explore the nature and concepts of textmasters and poetry in mathematics teaching; the connections between mathematics and literature; and practical steps in a textmasters’ environment for the teaching of mathematics through poetry. The crux of the matter is for teachers to see poetry as a wonderful aid that could assist in the teaching of the often dreaded mathematics. It is hoped that it will help teachers to investigate and reflect more on the power and potential of an interdisciplinary curriculum.