As long as we have known the history of ancient civilizations, we have known mathematic discovery. Maths is to thank for the advanced and technological society we live in today. It all started thousands of years ago with counting and arithmetic. Throughout the years, many people have wondered how you can get better at maths, or whether the ability is something you are just born with like some genetic trait. Many people believed that only certain people had the ability to understand math and make discoveries, however, recent science has shown that it is not a skillset you are born with. This means that anyone in history who was renown for their mathematics ability is because they put the work in, they persisted, and they studied, and they learned to solve problems. Math students everywhere, in high school, primary school, or even university can learn the study skills that math requires to become good at math.
Today, math is used every single day and may be one of the most important subjects you ever learn about. It can greatly affect your future, and also what kind of career path you choose. As nobody is born with the “maths gene”, getting better at math is just like everything else in life; practise makes perfect. While we know that math is often a subject that many have a love/hate relationship with, we are going to help people to change their view of math. Because everyone can be very good at math, and simply because you’re right or wrong, when you understand it, it is very logical and enjoyable.
Why some students struggle with math
Everyone struggles with solving math problems at some point! Your maths tutor had a hard time at one point. Your teacher struggled at one point. Everyone will have challenges in the subject because it is hard. However, overcoming these challenges and understanding the subject is the key to success. While there are many forms of learning difficulties such as dyscalculia, learning disabilities or math anxiety, we are going to focus on some of the challenges that are in our control.
Most students who struggle with math were poorly introduced to the subject, and lack proper foundation or find it hard to relate to, therefore they dislike the subject as a whole. Once students have fallen behind in a topic, the class may move on to the next topic before they properly understood anything, leading to poor grades. Sometimes, it’s the teacher not explaining the maths in a way that makes sense to the students learning style, maybe the student did not pay attention or didn’t do the maths homework, or maybe the math is a bit too abstract to relate to.
Many students see math as a series of numbers, and a subject that does not make sense, where you are right or wrong. They expect it to be difficult and do not see it as anything more than a really hard school subject. They do not have the history of math, or practical use of math explained to them. They do not appreciate the real-life complexities of math! And this is why they may find it so much harder, having to practise for longer to understand the foreign concepts of maths problems.
Another common reason students struggle with math is that they memorise the concepts instead of understanding the concepts. Rote memorisation learning is not okay. When students memorise formulas or rules without understanding them, they will eventually have problems they cannot solve, and because they do not understand how to use the tools they have memorised, they are going to struggle.
A few study tips for success in getting better at math
1. Realise it is easy and everyone can do it.
Math is a subject everyone can do. In creative subjects like art, drama or music, some students seem to have a few more skills than others. In math, everyone starts with the same skills, so everyone can master the subject.
2. Don’t move on before you are ready.
Do not rush through a topic in math class and move on before you understand it. If you are struggling, speak to a teacher or ask to see a tutor. See if you can go over it in a study group.
3. Put the practise in. Consistent practise is always better than sporadic one.
Lots of small amounts of consistent practise is better than doing a big math session once or twice a week. Try and make sure you are always practising, even a little bit in holidays! Try and aim to study mathematics every day of the week, even on the days you might not have a maths class.
4. Connect with the subject and find a reason about why you are learning it.
Mathematics relates to everything in our day to day lives!! Without geometry (which can be a hard subject), we would not have big beautiful buildings, interior design, and so many architectural feats. Every math topic has an exciting real-world use! Make sure you find it.
5. Understand what the point of each math concept is, instead of just focusing on how to solve the problem.
Focus on understanding the topic when studying math, and do not just memorise the rules. Seek understanding, avoid rule dependency.
6. Realise that math can be an easy subject in school once you understand how to study it.
7. Focus on the foundations, they will serve you.
Imagine someone learning how to speak English. They might learn all the nouns, verbs etc but ultimately they need to know whether to say “a table” or “an table”. There is syntax and grammar involved in being able to speak the language and without this,no amount of vocabulary will enable someone to speak English fluently.
Similarly, to be good at maths you need to speak the grammar and syntax of maths. Here we are referring to arithmetic and (in high school) algebra. These aren’t just “topics” in maths, they are the grammar and syntax of mathematics itself. Master these and your journey through all other topics will be much easier.
Because math builds on itself, getting good at the basics sets you up for success.
Professional Help Can Help You To Skyrocket Results
Becoming a skilful math student can take a lot of time and is often very hard. It is always best to learn the proper skills and get the best learning techniques with a professional. The tutors at Ezy Math Tutoring can greatly help students to become a master of math and show them how the subject can actually be fun. Having a tutor is one of the best ways to learn math as you will ensure you have covered everything from the ground-up!
There are always going to be ways to overcome common problems in any subject, and luckily math is such a logical subject, that anybody can learn it and succeed at it. Make sure you put the practise in, and it may soon become your favourite subject.
