Get Your Child To Fall In Love With Attempting Difficult Math Problems
The struggle is real.
Many students dread school math lessons and are unable to comprehend the subject. And they accept this as their fate.
Both research and observation show that this pattern often carries into their adult lives. All this is fine until their children also develop math anxiety.
If this explains your situation, you have come to the right place! At Mrs. Myers' Reading Room, we make math fun for kids in Southeast Wisconsin with our Nifty Numbers’ Math Program. Click here to sign up for a free trial.
In today’s blog post, we will provide you with actionable strategies to help your child overcome the fear of math so they can tackle difficult problems confidently.
Identify The Problem
Is your child really struggling with math, or are they just lazy? Sometimes, kids do poorly on a test or slack off homework, but that doesn’t always mean they have a math reading problem.
However, if they are consistently underperforming in math while scoring well in other subjects, they may need help coping with the subject. You should also talk to the teacher and discuss the best strategies for improvement.
Use Real-Life Illustrations
Children also find math reading and problem solving difficult because they seem abstract with no relevance to real life. That’s why you should try to connect math concepts with everyday applications. This shifts the perception of math as something you learn in class to something you do in everyday life.
Explore Other Ways To Solve Problems
Students usually learn to solve math problems by memorization or using tricks like 'carrying over.' But if this doesn't work for your kid, you should help them explore other techniques. The idea is to develop a number sense and logic instead of relying on a method.
For example, let's say you want to add 27 + 55. The standard method is to add 7 with 5 and carry over 2.
But another way is to round to the nearest 10s. So, take 3 from 55 and add it to 27. And now you add 30 + 52, which seems easier.
Focus On The Method
Having a great test score is great. But for kids who find maths difficult, focusing on the right answers can prove counterproductive.
Instead, they should be encouraged to focus on logic. Ask your child how they got their answer instead of emphasizing right and wrong. Once they get a grip on the method, they will find it easier to tackle difficult math problems.
Give Them Time
Students who find math difficult are often empathetic. They are easily influenced by the reactions of parents, teachers, and their classmates. They often require extra time and little space to learn concepts at their own pace.
Play Math Games
Who said learning can’t be fun? There are plenty of math-based games that you can use to take away the stress of dealing with numbers. So add some mathematical fun into the mix.
And while you’re at it, you can also explore interactive math apps, websites, and YouTube channels that use songs, animations, and games to explain concepts.
At Mrs. Myers' Reading Room, we offer a math development program for kids in Southeast Wisconsin. The ‘Nifty Numbers’ program uses a multi-sensory approach to students struggling with grasping mathematical concepts. Click here to sign up for a trial class.
