Mathematics is a subject that can be difficult for many students due to its abstract and cumulative nature. It requires a solid foundation of prior knowledge and can be challenging to learn new concepts without it. Expectations about the difficulty of mathematics are often high, and the personal value placed on it is low, making it even more difficult for students. Fortunately, there are ways to help your child overcome these difficulties and succeed in math.
Prodigy Math is an online math game that provides a safe, fun, and engaging game-based learning environment for students in first grade through eighth grade. It helps to address the core of the problem when it comes to mathematics: that a difficult task is one that is not “easily done”. Math requires patience and persistence, and it is not something that comes up intuitively or automatically. It often requires students to dedicate a lot of time and energy to understand and process mathematical problems.
Dyscalculia is a learning disability that can make math even more difficult for some students. It causes them to struggle with formulas, shapes, and concepts related to numbers, making it hard for them to keep up with their peers in mathematics. Math anxiety can also be a factor, causing feelings of fear and failure that impair their ability to perform. This can be due to expectations from parents or older siblings who have had problems with math, or simply believing that they cannot be good at math if they are creative or logical.
Children with ADHD who are hyperactive may also have difficulty with math due to their tendency to solve problems quickly and skip steps or make arithmetic errors. When faced with a math class or test, they may become quiet and worried or refuse to go to school. Math anxiety can affect students of all skill levels, even gifted children. Word problems require students to use their math skills in a different way than the way problems normally present themselves.
Fortunately, math anxiety can be addressed with the help of experts such as instructors, tutors, and counselors. When teaching complex mathematical procedures, teachers should present the problem to the class and explain a step-by-step method to help them solve it. This can be difficult for dyspraxic students who have difficulty showing the steps they used to arrive at an answer since most long-form mathematics is done by hand. However, with enough practice and persistence, anyone can become good at solving problems.
When your student has a math class or test, staying in touch with their teacher is a great way to identify where and why math might be difficult for them. Since mathematics involves the use of many multi-step processes to solve problems, mastering it requires much more practice than other subjects. With the right support and guidance, your child can overcome any difficulties they may have with math.
