Most of the students have problems learning mathematics including go math grade 1. This is perhaps the only subject in the school curriculum that is truly hated, feared, which causes nervous reactions in students. Why is this happening?
Techies VS Humanities
Somehow it so happened that from early childhood, parents are trying to understand what kind of mentality their child has – mathematical or humanitarian. It is not surprising that in school years, any problems with the exact sciences are explained by some wrong mindset. The child has no choice but to accept and lean on tongues.
Of course, this approach does not leave the student a chance to fall in love with mathematics including second grade go math. Absenteeism begins, deuces, homework, carelessness in the classroom, barely passed exams and the choice of a university on the principle of “where mathematics is not needed” begin.
The truth is that a basic course of mathematics at school can be mastered by any student, regardless of the mindset. Of course, the subject will be given to someone faster and easier, but the other through hardships will eventually come to no less result and on this path will learn to cope with difficulties and win despite the circumstances.
Boys VS girls
Despite the fact that girls today are increasingly mastering the so-called male professions, the myth of “mathematics – for boys” still persists in our schools and heads. From early childhood, parents tell their son: “You will be an excellent student in mathematics.” At the same time, completely different tasks may be set for the daughter: from the installation in languages to the dubious “boys work, and girls are beautiful.”
Korean scientists conducted an interesting experiment with go math 3 grade: the class was divided into two groups, each group included both boys and girls. The first group did not receive any preliminary training, and the boys performed better than the girls. A psychologist preliminarily worked with the second group, suggesting that the children undergo a simple training to reduce anxiety, and only then go to solve problems. In this group, the results were equal: girls coped with math tasks as well as boys.
The conclusion is simple: mathematics has no gender preferences, and therefore you should not impose false attitudes on children.
Motivation VS psychological stress
Many demanded specialties are related to mathematics. At least mathematics is needed for admission to a university, and often this discipline accompanies students throughout the educational path. Parents understand this, teachers understand, officials and employers also understand everything, and, of course, children are told already in elementary grades how important it is to study mathematics.
Nervous tension grows with the approach to the exam. When there is a year or even two left before the exams, parents begin to attract math tutors, enroll the child in numerous electives, courses, etc. As a result, an atmosphere of total pressure and nervous tension is created around the student: if I do not solve the problem, I will miss my chance for a happy professional future.
Psychologists say that some students develop a direct causal relationship in their minds: “Mathematics is excellent – life is excellent.” In this regard, nervous breakdowns may occur if suddenly the desired result was not achieved. Failure in the exam is always painful, but it is unlikely that so many hopes and ambitions are associated with any other subject.
What is mathematical anxiety
In the twentieth century, the term “mathematical anxiety” appeared. This condition is associated with poorly understood sources of danger. If you ask a student why he does not like mathematics, then a clear answer most likely will not follow. Emotional attacks like “I don’t like”, “Boring”, “Difficult”, etc. will not help to understand the situation. At the same time, nervous reactions arise not only in the context of a “traumatic” situation (a lesson at school, a call to the blackboard, a test or an exam), but also when faced with any need to operate with numbers.
Signs of mathematical anxiety in a child:
panic states in a situation when the teacher calls to the blackboard, asks to answer a question in front of the whole class, during a control or exam;
lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem, conviction that “everyone in the class understands more and better”;
unwillingness to do homework (namely mathematics), caused not by laziness or the desire to play longer, but by the fear of again facing an unsolvable problem;
constant doubts about the correctness of the calculations (the child will ask for help on every, even the most elementary, issue);
a categorical reluctance to try alternative teaching methods (math games, educational films, lectures on the Internet, online classes, etc.). The child is convinced in advance that he will not succeed.
How can I help my child to learn mathematics?
First of all, do not instill in the child a fear of learning. Phrases that we do not even attach importance to can significantly affect the child’s psyche: “You will not study well, you will not achieve anything in life”, “Mom and Dad will be very upset if you do not write the test for 5”, “If you tried ( tried), then the mark would be higher “, etc. It seems to us adults that the child understands the educational role of such speeches, and he, in turn, thinks that he has not lived up to the expectations of his parents.
A subject that causes difficulties should be discussed in a positive way. Yes, something does not work out, the problem is not solved the first time, but the very search for the right solution can be an exciting adventure. Don’t be annoyed when your child asks for help with homework. But do not decide everything for him either. It is best to point out the presence of an error or direct it to the correct solution, and leave the main part – the search for this very solution – to the student.
Be interested in a subject that is causing the child’s difficulty. Flip through a textbook, search the Internet for alternative literature: high-quality science pop really saves. For example, Ian Stewart’s book Incredible Numbers. Of course, it makes no sense to offer it to a 1st grade student, but an older student will surely like it. Take the time and read it yourself. Books that develop ingenuity, logic problems, and puzzles will help arouse interest in mathematics.
Do not directly associate academic success with the value of a child as an individual. Don’t form a cult of the mark. An excellent test is great, but even if the diary does not contain “five”, the child does not become less valuable and significant for his parents, for the world and for himself. Teach children to be calm about failure, but not give up and try again and again.
Experiment with educational formats. The child may not understand the teacher’s explanations, but this does not mean that he will have to hate math until the end of school years. You can always try to cope with the problem yourself: with the help of specialized applications, online resources, private teachers, educational games, videos on YouTube, etc.
How to learn math: 4 life hacks
Carefully read each word or symbol of a new definition, rule, formula. Asking yourself the question: “Why exactly it and can it be replaced?” – this will help you to work out the new material perfectly on your own.
Write down the solution in as much detail as possible. Always reduce everything to the simplest: stereometry – to the Pythagorean theorem, calculations – to “2 + 2”.
Do not use the words “obvious”, “similar”, etc. And if someone, for example a teacher, uses them when explaining, ask clarifying questions. For someone who really understands, it will not be difficult to explain and “chew”.
Check answers by solving a problem, example, or equation in a fundamentally different way. For example, you can represent an equation as functions, draw them in a coordinate plane, and assume their intersection points – the roots of the equation.
