The “Math Brain” Myth

The Math Brain Myth

How many of us have heard the math myth that you're either good at math or you're not?  A lot of us went through school believing that to be good at math, you somehow inherited a special gift or had a "math brain".  This belief that you'll be either good or bad at math can have negative consequences. If one group is thought to automatically be gifted at math, then naturally another group must not be so good. Does the “good” group simply rest on their supposed gift and not push themselves?  Does the “bad” group simply give up on developing a necessary life skill. This bias we hold is problematic, as numerous studies have shown there is no such thing as having a "math brain" and all students have the capacity to learn and excel in math. Let's take a few moments to dispel this myth of the math brain.

It's In The Messaging

The outside factors and influence around your child and the messaging they receive about math appear to be more of a true indicator of how well they will perform, rather than some biological reason. Our brains are designed to comprehend numbers and words equally, as both are understood and processed through the same filters in our brain. Parents are encouraged to read to their children at an early age. Reading bedtime stories is a nightly tradition in many households. You can begin to introduce math fundamentals to your children early as well and surround them with positive messaging that treats their ability to succeed at math as a given and not conditional.

Math Ability Is Not Predetermined

Math ability is not fixed. We don't assign this "fixed" attitude to children learning to read, or when learning other related subjects. If a child is struggling with reading comprehension, we don't label him or her as a "bad" reader and move on. We provide them with extra support to get them to their assigned reading level because we understand reading is a non-negotiable skill they will need in life.  So, we should be careful to treat math the same. Math difficulty is a sign that more guidance is needed, not an automatic indicator a child is destined to be unsuccessful at math.  

Practice Makes Perfect

Many of us may not have started out being the best at a necessary task.  Take learning to drive a car, for example. We all had certain blind spots initially that we improved over time the more we drove, and with the help of guided instruction by a more experienced adult. Memorizing the manual for the driver's license test only got you so far.  You also had to practice behind the wheel and demonstrate you could apply the rules of the road to walk out with your driver's license.

If your child is struggling, encourage them to understand that their math journey is a marathon and not a sprint. Of course, homework and daily assignments are time sensitive, but help them to slow down when doing their math homework or assignments.  Help them become comfortable with taking the time to truly process the information that they are learning and to see the value in it as opposed to seeing how quickly they can just get it done. Demonstrate for them the importance to take time to ask questions and problem solve. Even if they don't get the exact right answer, it will motivate them if they are able to explain the steps to how they got to their answer.

Take Inventory of Math Beliefs

As your child is learning math, be aware of not only their attitude, but also your own beliefs about your math abilities that you may be unconsciously passing on to them. If you didn't have the most positive math learning experience, be mindful of how it may impact the way you talk to your child about math in general and their abilities.

All students can learn math. Believing otherwise is a myth and it perpetuates math anxiety. How you feel as a parent about math has a significant impact on your child's math success. They will model your attitudes and behaviors first.

All children are gifted in their ability to be dedicated and work hard to improve their math skills. Support them by providing strategies to help them identify challenges, strengthen problem solving skills and overcome learning gaps.

Check out what Mathnasium Founder and Chief Education Officer, Larry Martinek, says about being "left brained."

Here at Mathnasium, we believe that all children can learn math, no matter their skill level. We specialize in providing individualized instruction and proven methods to children in grades 2 - 12 to help them identify and overcome any math learning gaps. We offer instruction in-person and online to meet your family's scheduling needs. Give us a call  at 303-979-9077 or reach out to us online today to schedule a no-risk assessment for your child and get started.