Why is Math So Hard for Students?
When your child is trying to solve a math problem, they need to focus and follow each step carefully.
If they lose focus or get distracted at any point in this process, they're far more likely to make mistakes and have to start over until they get the right answer.
Over time, repeating the same mistakes can reduce a child's confidence and interest in solving math problems, especially if they feel they are falling behind their classmates.
If your child is struggling with math, they shouldn't be shy or embarrassed.
Everyone has their own strengths and challenges in learning. As a parent, you are in a great position to help your child overcome this and make math easier.
What is Mathematics Anxiety?
Lots of kids are anxious about math. Some experts believe that children fear math more than other subjects because of its reputation for being difficult which exacerbates the stress.
Writing down key facts and formulas at the beginning of a test or homework can help quickly, as children forget facts when they panic. Being able to come back to the notes later takes some of the pressure off. Catchy phrases, songs, and images can help children who have trouble memorizing formulas. Children are exposed to mathematics from kindergarten. As children progress through elementary school, they learn math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
While math can be fun and challenging for some children, it can be a completely different experience for others. They may be afraid of not answering correctly or not understanding what is being taught. They may become frustrated or upset that they are not doing well in mathematics, or dislike the subject, making their math skills development even more difficult. Children often develop math anxiety if they haven't mastered early math skills and are always expected to learn additional math if they don't have the basic knowledge.
School-age children, seeing that their peers are good at math, may also develop the belief that they are not as "naturally" good at math as other children. But that's exactly what can happen when kids try to find the right answer to a math problem without even understanding the concept.
Math Isn’t Just a Number!
Biology is the study of life. It's right there in the name. Chemistry is the study of chemicals. Physics, broadly speaking, is the study of the forces and interactions of bodies. How about mathematics? Mathematics is the study of patterns. It is a study of patterns both in the real world you and I live in and in the abstract world of the expressions x and y.
Mathematics teaches not only numbers, equations and calculations, but also thinking, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It is a tool that brings rationality to our thinking and makes our lives simple and easy. Even simple addition and subtraction problems have more than just correct answers. Both simple and complex math problems provide students with important problem-solving skills that can be used in a variety of applications.
From textbooks and workbooks to classrooms, mathematics is a wordy subject. That said, while students certainly learn how to perform calculations and manipulate numbers in math class, they also learn valuable language skills. Even if you hear me describe new ways, you are improving your language skills in important ways.
On the other hand, critical thinking is essential to analyzing complex problems, and most people acquire the building blocks of these skills through math classes. Finally, mathematics teaches us to think abstractly. This is important for critical thinking. Mathematics lessons encourage students to think symbolically and solve complex problems more easily. Developing critical thinking often enables students to think more independently and ultimately make more rational decisions. Students can learn how to assess risk more effectively, allowing them to make better decisions in their personal and professional lives for years to come.
How To Make Mathematics Fun?
Whether it's computer games, sports or fun board games, let your child see math as a game, not a job. Make math a game with digital games, apps, and hundreds of websites as resources. There are activity books to make math fun and a website where you can download fun printables for early learning.
Making math enjoyable helps kids associate math with fun, fun and pressure-free learning. Instead of being frightened, children will engage with the topic throughout the school year. The secret to a successful math class is that it's so much fun that kids don't even realize they're learning something useful later on.
Mathematics, languages, and many sciences are cumulative. If they don't learn the basics, they will become more and more confused and lag behind as the lessons progress. It's like building a brick wall. If the foundation is weak, the things they build on top of it will be unstable and will quickly become rubble upon scrutiny.
Mentalmatics is offering a trial class at $20 at any of their outlets. All you have to do is book via their website below to enjoy it!