I was relieved when I made the decision to take my math O Level exam since it meant that I would never again have to deal with this awful subject. In the coming years, I didn't want to study math in any way.
But, I can't declare that I won't utilize math at all because we deal with numbers, computations, estimations, and many other aspects of math in daily life. We frequently use math without even recognizing it. But I did come to the realization that I'm not as poor at arithmetic as I thought I was in elementary school, especially when it comes to mental math. And it's caused me to ponder why I dreaded it so much and thought it was such a challenging subject?
I'm sure many of you who are reading this can identify with my overall aversion to and dread of math, and many of you are prepared to quit up before even giving it your best effort, just like I was.
Yet math isn't as challenging as people make it out to be. Whatever subject that we begin learning initially seems tough, but with time and effort, we can learn and understand it. Also, each subject has certain challenging elements that require extra effort to master.
The same is true of math, but frequently we lose up even before attempting to comprehend it because we have already told ourselves things like, "I'm not good with math," "I can't do it," "This is too difficult," or even "Why do I have to learn math?"
Looking back, I can conclude that I probably never developed a comfort level with math since I never followed my teacher's lead in fostering a love of the subject. On the final week of my math classes, our teacher came to the classroom, worked the problems for us, and we all dutifully copied it before we had to complete some sums on our own.
But why am I sharing this with you guys? It's because I regret not having the opportunity to learn, appreciate, and love math, and because I do not want this to happen to any other students. I'd like to reassure everyone here that math is neither a monster nor a mystery. It's a subject that won't become your best friend until you put up the effort to accept it, give it a chance to work its magic on you, and form an alliance with it by practicing it fervently. Doesn't it sound poetic?
Mathematical representation and description of the world in terms of quantities, forms, and connections is, to put it simply, the study of patterns. One of the key ways this can be accomplished is through teaching math in the appropriate manner. Math needs to be understood rather than just learned. Sadly, teachers of mathematics frequently teach this subject more accidentally than intentionally, especially in junior classes. They simply lack the enthusiasm to teach math in an engaging and fun approach that will inspire pupils to love and understand numbers. Although not all of us are fortunate enough to have them, there are plenty of wonderful teachers out there.
Thus, even though we have little control over how math is taught to us, we do have a lot of control over how math is learned. We can make the effort to get past our fear of the subject and study it with the commitment and tenacity it merits. The fundamentals must be mastered, the formulas and principles understood, and there must be much practice.
Anybody can succeed in math if it is studied properly. Let's examine these five approaches to making math as simple as ABC!
1. Practice until you are an expert:
Math requires a lot of "doing." Instead of memorizing formulae and procedures, math contains reasoning, processes, and approaches that you learn through working through issues. Even if you understand the ideas, there are still a lot of exceptions to the rules and complicated methods to ask a straightforward question that you can only handle if you've done something similar before or have sufficiently mastered the sums of that issue. Fortunately, there are now a variety of practice books on the market as well as a wealth of websites that offer free practice problems in math.
2. Homework comes first: Math homework is crucial because it allows you to put what you have learned into practice. To better grasp what was presented in class that day, you should complete related questions, even if your teacher did not give you one. It is a component of the practice task that math demands. While what comes next will frequently be an advanced version of what you were taught, doing your homework and studying what was taught each day in class is an excellent method to get ready for it.
3. Pay attention in class:
In a math class, block out everything to concentrate on what the teacher is saying and doing. No daydreaming or throwing paper balls!
A math class requires active learning, it's as if the teacher is solving a puzzle in class and you need to be actively involved in solving that puzzle with him. When the teacher solves a question on the board, focus on what he or she is doing and try to solve the sum with them. If an explanation is being given, take notes so that you can go through it later. One of the most common errors students make is that they simply write down the sums that have been solved off the board and neglect to record the teacher's advice and explanations. As a result, when a student tries to complete some questions on their own later, they run into problems since the sums they have calculated and documented do not make sense without the teacher's further explanation. Sometimes the strategies for answering a question can be more crucial than the actual process.
4. Ask for help without hesitation, and take responsibility for your mistakes:
In the discipline of math, you can't advance until you figure out the problem you are currently working on. You can temporarily avoid a challenge, but because math is a cumulative topic, it will only get worse and resurface. You can't do anything unless you have a solid basis. If you have any questions about whatever you are learning in class, you should ask them there. The instructor will try their best to explain that aspect to you because they know how challenging it can be for you. Ask any student who is skilled at math and helpful to explain it to you if you still don't understand. The sooner you find a solution, the simpler it will be for you to comprehend. Additionally, speak with your teacher during your free period or break and ask for an extra session on a subject that is particularly challenging. A lot of helpful videos and websites with math lessons should also be used as references.
Math is the only subject where we learn more from our errors than our correct answers. And once more, unlike any other subject, if we don't correct the error the first time, we will inevitably repeat it. You won't ever be able to accomplish something correctly until you know what you did incorrectly and why. Hence, answer all of the questions that you get wrong again.
5. Find a study partner:
Another strategy to encourage learning of this subject—and all other subjects—is to work on difficulties together in a study group or with a study partner. By registering on our website, you can also become a member of the Prodigy Education community.
Keep convincing yourself that you can succeed while blocking out all of your doubts. Everyone can excel at math if they use the proper approach.