Many scientific and technological discoveries have been made using mathematics.To many children and adults, "math" is a 4-letter word that evokes feelings of fear and anxiety.Many students are not able to study more challenging disciplines because of math anxiety and mathphobia.If you or your child are afraid of math, you can learn how to cope with it by reading the following steps.
Step 1: The symptoms of mathphobia can be identified.
You may have mathphobia if you get anxious or frustrated with math.If this is the case for you, there are four symptoms that can help you recognize them: panic, paranoia, passive behavior and lack of confidence.Do you feel a wave of helplessness or terror associated with math class, tests, quizzes, and homework?Are you worried that you are the only person in the world who can't do the math problems and that everyone else is smarter than you?Have you given up on learning and understanding math because you feel that you aren't smart enough?Do you rely on others to help you through the material because of your lack of confidence?
Step 2: Take the time to acknowledge your math anxiety.
The first step to treatment is admitting the problem.If you don't deal with mathphobia, it will affect your life negatively.If your child is struggling with math, this is important.Theirs can be increased by your own anxiety.
Step 3: If you want to take the proper level of math course, you have to sign-up.
Everyone learns at a different pace.Before you start, make sure you are placed in the correct level of mathematics.It can be very frustrating to be placed in a course that is more advanced than you are.Discuss with your advisors what level of math is appropriate for your skill level.To gauge your level of knowledge, take a math placement test.
Step 4: Pick a professor who will fit your learning style.
At the college level, you can choose your professor and math section, even if it's not an option at the high school level.You can get an idea of a professor's teaching style by visiting websites where previous students have rated them.Ask other students in that class how they liked it.Ask the professor about how they teach.Discuss with them if they would be a good fit for you.
Step 5: Ask questions if you don't understand.
It will be much harder to understand later concepts if you get lost in the beginning.If you don't let your students know about your underlying problem, good teachers want their students to succeed.Don't feel embarrassed when you ask a question.It's likely that there is at least one other person in the room who is also confused if you don't understand something.
Step 6: The easiest problems should be done first.
The easiest problems come first in most groups of problems assigned as homework.Work your way through the more difficult problems if you answer the easier ones first.When you get stuck, take your time and not worry.It's possible to go back to it later.This strategy works well for tests.Don't forget to ask the questions you missed along the way.
Step 7: You have plenty of time to study for the test.
Set aside time each day to study and do practice problems, instead of taking a test the night before.You will be less anxious about having enough time to learn everything you need to know.Long-term practice will help you remember how to solve problems in a testing environment.You have time to study the concepts that are more difficult to master.
Step 8: Make a plan to take the test.
The only difference between a test and homework is the amount of time you have to complete it.If you have a plan of attack and a positive attitude, you can ease your anxiety about the math test.The test's importance should be seen in a different way.The test isn't about your worth as a person or a student, it's about how well you've learned the material in the unit.Use your time wisely.Don't rush, either.Take some time to understand the question.Use the remaining time to work through the more difficult questions.Show your work, you're not just being tested on getting the correct answer, but on your understanding of the method used to get the right answer.
Step 9: Ask for longer time.
Ask your teacher if they can give you more time to take exams and quizzes.If you have more time to get through the test, you will be less anxious about getting to every question.You may need to speak to a counselor or take a test to get more time.
Step 10: Make your study habits more pleasant.
Changing the way you study math may change your attitude about it.Knowing exactly when to use a formula is more effective than simply memorize it.You can try some of the methods listed below.If some of the passages are difficult or information dense, you may need to read the lesson several times, but allow yourself time to absorb the text as best you can.As you read, write down any questions you want to ask.It's a good idea to take lecture notes.Your goal is to understand the lecture, not to write notes.Write down what's important in the lecture and then write down the supporting material.Try to study in groups.If you work with a study group, you can better understand the subject.One of your classmates may be able to explain it to you in a way that you can understand.
Step 11: You should know the signs of mathphobia in your child.
If your child is completely disinterested or scared to do their math homework, it may be because of anxiety towards the subject.Your child may say something like "I'll never be good at math" and assume that they don't have the intelligence for the subject.Pay attention to your child's behavior and see if they get upset specifically when they have to do math or if there is some other reason for their behavior that day.
Step 12: Reinforce your child's skills.
Positive reinforcement can help your child overcome mathphobia.If they get something wrong, talk about the problems with them and emphasize the things they got correct.Mention the skills that they have mastered and the ones that still need work.They can get one-on-one help if they hire a tutor.
Step 13: There is a supportive environment for learning math.
Talk about math in a positive way.If your child gets an answer wrong, have them look at the problem again and not berating them.You can encourage a positive learning environment for studying mathematics, or any other subject, if you remind your child that math skills aren't learned automatically and that everyone learns at a different rate.Allow your child to set up a study environment that suits them.Your child may prefer background music or study on the floor instead of sitting at a desk if you allow visual distraction such as the TV or internet.Encourage your child to learn to set up the problem without assistance, but allow calculators and computers for doing the actual calculations.
Step 14: Schedule breaks.
If your child is having trouble with math, you should work harder at it.Without a break, study can lead to frustration.Take a break to allow your child to process the information.A better way for your child to learn and understand is to take a step back and find out what the problem is.
Step 15: Encourage your child to focus on one problem at a time.
When presented with a problem set or a test with 30 questions, it's easy to get overwhelmed.You never sit down and read a whole book at the same time, so why would you try to do that with math?Encourage your child to ask one question at a time.If they find a problem that is difficult, tell them to skip it and come back later.When they get to the harder ones, answering the easier questions will build their confidence.
Step 16: Positive uses of math are something to show your child.
Many aspects of life, such as cooking (ratios and proportions), sports (scorekeeping), home upkeep (calculating quantities of building materials and paint, budgeting), and others, rely on mathematics.Showing the practical uses of math may make your child want to learn it.While doing daily household activities try to turn math problems into games.
Step 17: Get to know your child's teacher.
To help a child with math, you need to know how it's being taught.It's possible that your child needs more attention in the classroom or that they learn better if they're taught in a different way.Discuss the matter with your child's teacher, who can help you plan a suitable way to supplement their education.Your child may think differently than you do.They should be encouraged to solve problems in a way that makes sense to them.
Step 18: Make sure youFamiliarize yourself with math teaching aids.
In addition to the calculator and computer, there are a number of math teaching aids to assist in performing basic calculations, including finger calculation methods such as Chizanbop and Cuisenaire rods.You can find information about these and other methods on the website of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.An overview of how math is taught is included in a section devoted to helping parents and other family members help their children learn math.
Step 19: The positive aspects of math can be supported with games and puzzles.
There is a belief that math is not fun.If you approach math in the right way, it can be fun.Battleship and mancala teach logical thinking, while games such as Yahtzee teach number recognition, probability, and strategy.There are a number of educational games on the website.Puzzles such as magic squares teach pattern recognition and logical thinking while reinforcing calculation skills, and also show some of the interesting relationships between numbers in our mathematical system.Students taking math seriously are helped by math humor.The author of this article did a parody of the Five Man Electric Band's song "Sines", which was about the number 7 being cannibalistic.
Step 20: Encourage your child to not compare themselves to their peers.
Your child may have a tendency to complain that they aren't as good at math as their classmates.Let them know that they just learn at a different pace if you discourage this type of talk.There is no competition in math.Don't make statements around your child that may make them think that you are comparing them to their classmates.
Step 21: myths about mathematical ability
Some people are afraid of mathematics because they believe things that aren't true.There are a number of myths that are commonly heard and believed.There is no evidence that men are better at math than women.Historically, men have had better educational opportunities than women.Some people think that math is all about logic and not creativity.Understanding where to begin in solving a math problem can be difficult if you don't have a good dose of intuition.To be good in math, you have to be able to do all the calculations in your head.A form of finger calculation leads to the development of the abacus, because it shows an understanding of basic math.Being good in math means getting the right answer.The methods taught to do certain calculations are the easiest and best, but they're not the only methods.It's usually taught to convert the equivalent fractions of 4 and 9 to make 13 because 24 is the lowest common multiple of 6 and 8.It's okay to convert the fractions to 8/48 and 18/ 48 and add to make 26/48.If you find the lowest common multiple, you have smaller numerators to add together.
Step 22: It's a good idea to recognize the thinking of a perfectionist.
Personal beliefs about one's inability to do math are related to the common myths about mathematical ability.People with math phobias may think that if they get the answer, the problem is too easy.While a math test may be timed, mathematics is not about how quickly you get the answer.It's more likely that you are better at math than you think, if the problem looked simple.Take your time as you approach math.If you struggle with a problem, ask questions and tell yourself that nobody is perfect.
Step 23: Think about the teacher who taught you or your child.
Many teachers suffer from math anxiety and do not teach well.The teachers who fall back to teaching from the textbook are those who use only drill and practice to reinforce the lesson.While many college education programs require future teachers to declare and be educated in an academic specialization or concentration, school districts may hire teachers for teaching positions outside that area.A teacher hired to teach mathematics may not have had a lot of academic work in the subject.
Step 24: Think about your feelings about mathematics.
If you don't address your math anxiety, you will most likely pass it on to your children.It lowers their expectations for themselves if you tell them that it's okay not to be good at math because you weren't on the surface.When helping your children with their assignments, cultivate a positive environment related to mathematics.