Many parents have kids that are struggling with math. This struggle could continue if not tackled early.
Even though you are not the only parent facing this challenge, there is a need to help a child who struggles with Math.
Why is Math So Hard for Some Children?
There are reasons why Math is so hard for some children.
Mindset
The problem is not that math is hard, it’s that people think it’s hard.
The human brain is not wired to understand mathematics. It was never designed to do so. Mathematics is not intuitive and they are not emotional. They don’t make sense to us, which is why we have to teach them to children as if they were a foreign language.
One of the most common reasons is the mindset. Some kids believe math is difficult. Kids with a fixed mindset will see Math as difficult. They make certain remarks like, “Maths is hard”, “I hate Math”, and “I can only apply Math in school. It is not applied in real life.”
In order for children to be successful in math, they need a good mindset about the subject matter. A lot of the time, this means parents need to help their child develop a good mindset before they enter kindergarten or first grade.”
Unconfirmed stories
There are unconfirmed stories of Math as a difficult subject. Some kids have been told by peers or older siblings that Math is a very difficult subject.
Connected topics
Math is made up of topics that are prerequisites to more complex topics. For example, you need the knowledge of multiplication, addition, subtraction and division to tackle problems on areas and volumes of shapes. The kid could face difficulty not learning the prerequisite topics.
Anxiety
Children could express varying degrees of negative emotional reactions when handling numbers and solving mathematical problems. The symptoms of anxiety are negative talk, low scores, nervousness, lack of concentration and lack of engagement.
Learning difficulty
Difficulty in comprehending arithmetic or numbers is referred to as Dyscalculia. This is not the same as Math anxiety. It is a disorder that makes it difficult for kids to understand numbers and math word problems.
6 SIGNS THAT KIDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH MATH
Sign 1 -Negative comments about Math
One of the visible signs of a child struggling with Math is the negative comment about the subject. A child can hardly make negative comments about an enjoyable subject. Comments like “Math is very difficult”, “Math is not for learners like me”, and “I cannot understand Math” are clear indications that the child is struggling with the subject.
Sign 2 -Dislike for the teacher
The kid sometimes transfers the dislike for the subject to the teacher. A Kid’s dislike for the Math teacher is another visible sign that the child is struggling with Math. The challenge may not be on the part of the subject teacher. It could be that the kid does not like the subject.
Sign 3- Poor test grade
A child struggling with Math will most likely perform poorly in the subject. Their attention will shift to other subjects that they are good at and spend less time studying Math. The report card will clearly show subjects or areas that the child is struggling with.
Sign 4- Poor time management
Time management could be challenging for a kid. The kid may have problem reading clocks. Difficulty in reading increment of time is a sign that the child could be struggling with Math. Studying or practising math requires substantial time. The kid may focus on other subjects and allocate very little or no time for Math. Most kids hardly study subjects that they have difficulty with. Parents will need to be observant to address this challenge.
Sign 5- Distraction
Every child has a unique learning style. Some prefer studying on their own while others may prefer interaction or hands-on. If your child is absent-minded, loses concentration or gets restless when practising math, they may be struggling with a topic or Math as a whole.
Sign 6- Challenges learning more advanced Math topics
Sub-topics and topics in Math are building blocks to more complex sub-topics or topics. Topics like Trigonometry will require previous knowledge of Geometry. Important topics like the surface area of solids, angles of a polygon, and areas of polygons will aid the child’s understanding of Geometry.
Tips on How your child can become More Successful in Mathematics
As a parent, the task at hand is helping your kids succeed. There is a solution, no matter how big the challenge is. You need this mindset in tackling challenges that your kid has with Math. We have outlined some steps you can deploy in making Math an enjoyable subject for your kid.
Positive Affirmation
Positive affirmation is a simple way to change your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It is a technique that you can use to build self-image, self-esteem and confidence. It is also a strategy for dealing with stressful situations. The affirmation can be used to make difficult tasks seem easier or more manageable.
In the context of math, positive affirmations are used to help students believe that they are capable of success in mathematics. They are also used as an instructional strategy for teaching mathematical concepts and skills.
Identify the negative words and notions that your kid has about Math. Gradually replace these negative words with positive affirmations. You need to believe in these affirmations yourself. Affirmations like “Math is easy”, “I can solve Math problems”, and “I practice Math constantly” should replace negative affirmations. There will be a positive change when the right affirmations are used.
Make Math Interesting
Math is a subject that is often seen as boring and difficult by many students. This can lead to math anxiety and the avoidance of math in their future careers. However, if we make math interesting, it becomes an engaging subject that can be enjoyed by all students.
Your kids need to start seeing Math as an interesting subject and not a boring one. There are engaging tools like Math games, Math apps, Math books, worksheets, and other educational content that are accessible and affordable for kids to use at home or in the classroom. Learning has shifted from traditional modes to interactive and fun modes.
BRAIN POP offers interesting topics in Math that your kids will enjoy.
USE REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES TO EXPLAIN MATH CONCEPT
Math is a difficult subject for many people who often find it hard to understand the underlying concepts. However, with the help of real-life examples, it is easier to understand how math works in our everyday lives.
Here are some examples of how math is used in our everyday lives:
-The Pythagorean theorem can be used to measure the distance from one point to another by calculating the length of the hypotenuse and the lengths of the other two sides.
-The Golden Ratio can be found in nature and art through spiral patterns that are found throughout nature such as seashells, pine cones, and galaxies. -The Fibonacci sequence can be found in nature through plant growth patterns such as sunflower seeds and pinecones.
Math is applied in real life. Kids need to see the real-life application of Math like shopping for the best price, counting, calculating time and distance, and managing money. These applications can help broaden the knowledge of kids about Math.
IDENTIFY THE PARTICULAR AREA OF DIFFICULTY
Mathematics is a subject that many people struggle with. In the first few years of studying mathematics, students are introduced to concepts such as fractions, decimals and percentages. The difficulty in these concepts can be attributed to the fact that they are abstract and not very intuitive.
The difficulties in maths arise because of the abstract nature of the subject. For example, fractions are difficult because they require students to do a lot of mental calculations and work out which fraction is larger than another fraction. Similarly, percentages are difficult because they involve multiplying one number by 100 and dividing by another number. These problems may be tricky for some students but for others, it may be easy to understand their meaning and how these concepts work.
The difficulties in math arise due to the abstract nature of the subject matter
Identifying the area of difficulty is not very easy. This is because the challenge may have been existing for some time. Math is a building block of many connected topics and sub-topics; hence it may be difficult tracing the initial area where the child lost a bearing. You can revise previous topics to ascertain the problem area. You can work with the kid’s subject teacher on a plan to identify these problem areas and also come up with a learning style that works best for the kid at home and in school.
GET INVOLVED.
Parents need to get involved in their kids’ math education. They should be interested in what the child is learning, and they should be actively involved in their child’s learning process.
Parents can help their children by doing homework with them and teaching them how to solve math problems. They can also encourage children to take on more difficult challenges and provide them with a lot of encouragement when they do well.
You can set out a time to help the child practice Math. You do not need to be an expert in Math to do this. Simply leverage existing materials such as time-table worksheets, Addition worksheets, and other interactive worksheets to help the child practice. Set out time to do the homework with the child. You can get in touch with friends about problems that you cannot tackle.
GET A MATH TUTOR
You might be thinking that tutoring is a thing of the past and that your kids will be just fine without it. But, in reality, there are many benefits to having a tutor.
A tutor can help your child with their math skills and even teach them new concepts. They can also help them improve their grades by giving them more time to study and work on their homework. They can help your child develop the confidence they need to tackle any problem they may face in the future. Getting a tutor can make Math enjoyable for the kid.
You can get a math tutor to provide lessons for your kid outside school hours. The child’s teacher can help or recommend someone good for the task. Do you want to employ online tutors? Kindly research online tutors that can help provide lessons.
Is your kid struggling with math? You need to seek help. Prompt and appropriate action is key to helping your child do better at maths. The child’s self-esteem can be affected if this challenge is not resolved. However, the self-esteem will improve if resolved. This improvement will also show in other areas of the kid’s life.
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