Many students and people in the world struggle to grasp core math concepts. Because we’re a math tutorial center, we see this all the time. Struggling to understand core concepts of math can make it difficult to be good at higher levels of math education, which then can give kids a stigma about math and it can discourage them from taking more advanced math courses later on.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way! There are a variety of things that students and parents can do to help kids be successful at math. Comprehending instead of memorizing, practicing and asking lots of questions are just a few of the ways that students can work to improve their math skills. Below are steps to help your student get better at understanding math fundamentals, from elementary school and the way through post-secondary school.
Understand vs. Memorize
There are some basic math tables that need to be memorized. Say, for instance 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 1+3=4 and so on. Or multiplication tables, like 5*6=30, 5*7=35, 5*8=40. Knowing math facts lets you recall some information when you need it. However, when it needs to be applied, in problems – especially word problems – is when concepts need to be understood. Too often, we see students come into Mathnasium of Parker who have facts memorized. What we then work on is helping students understand why certain steps are required in a procedure and not just regurgitation of how you do something.
Understanding the addition and multiplication examples above conceptually then means that for addition, you are gather 2 quantities or numbers together to get their total. For multiplication, the math concept tells you that you are getting a total of a certain number or quantity that has been copied so many times.
Practice Makes PerfectBetter
Math is its own language. It’s meant to express the relationships between numbers. Just like learning any new language, learning math requires practicing familiarity with numbers and practice with each concept to become fluent. Just as with language, there also might be stickiness with particular concepts, such as long division or geometry. That’s why picking apart concepts individually is necessary for full competency.
Learning math is also a slow-moving process for a lot of students. Patience it so key in doing something over and over. When a student can get 7 problems/questions revolving around a concept right, they are probably at the point where they have a clear understanding of the concept.
Explain and Question
Explaining and questioning as much of the world as possible is one of the key ways humans learns and grow in life, but it’s also how kids can better learn to understand math. Having your student explain how a concept works and how to solve problems using that concept to parents, teachers and other students is one of the best ways they can learn it themselves. This is because they may have to explain it in several different ways for everyone to understand. Explaining something from multiple perspectives really helps the “teacher” (i.e. the kid explaining) to think about a concept in different angles. One can really only do this if they understand it well.
Work with Friends
There are people who like to work in solitude, but others like to work with partners, especially when it comes to solving problems. It often helps to have a friend who can help clarify a concept for another student in “kid terms”. Sometimes this is because they can explain things in a different way than a teacher or parent, where it might make sense to the kid more, other times it may make the struggling student more comfortable to talk to a trusted kid comrade about their struggles.
Teachers and parents can also help organize study groups and suggest working in pairs for students who aren’t understanding math well. Similar to how many adults work in professional jobs, a mix of working together and individually is a good strategy for better understanding.
Go To Mathnasium
When kids are struggling in math, part of the problem is that they often don’t want to admit it. It can be embarrassing if all their friends are seemingly understanding something and they are not. Speaking up and asking questions when they have them is something that should absolutely be encouraged, but if your student is fairly shy or needs more individual attention than just a few questions in class, hiring help might be a good way to make sure they are given all the clarification they need.
Going to a math tutorial center like Mathnasium may seem a little intimidating at first, but the results are worth it for kids and parents. Letting skill gaps in math comprehension go too long can really lead to a lot of frustration in the household and a lot of stress for your child. Mathansium can help because it moves at a pace that allows for children to follow. Most people need help at various points in their life. Teaching your child that asking for help and getting help when needed, is something that is beyond just math learning, it’s a life lesson!
