Difficult Math Topics: How to Improve in Them
Five strategies to help students conquer difficult math topics and continue their pursuit for academic excellence!
It is no secret that everyone has certain math areas in which they struggle with. Whether it be algebra, geometry, word problems, and so forth, it is easy to become frustrated while spending night after night trying to complete a homework assignment but to no avail. However, there are many avenues that one can take to overcome these math related speed bumps. In this article, we will cover five different ways that a student can improve in difficult math topics and continue on their journey to becoming a mathematical wizard!
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Have a Consistent Practice Routine
Repetition plays an extremely important role in allowing your brain to retain the knowledge that you have learned. When it comes to difficult math topics, even more practice is required so that the information sticks.
Practicing a set amount of problems every session will enable you to become familiar with the challenging material so that it becomes less intimidating with each passing day. On top of that, if you do not have a consistent study schedule, remembering the problem solving steps will be strenuous and the progress that you made towards grasping these hard concepts will be lost.
Ask Questions During Class
Asking questions during class is a great way to help better understand the difficult math topics at hand. By asking questions, you are now more engaged with the material and will remember what was taught during the day’s lesson more easily.
In addition, refraining from asking questions increases the chances of not understanding a crucial step of how to solve a tough problem. This can both derail the progress that you have made and create more obstacles in the future.
To ensure that you are getting the most out of your questions, try and write down a list of them while practicing problems the night before. Bring that list to class the next day and rattle off those questions throughout the session. This way, no homework question will be left unanswered and all potential issues will be accounted for!
Join a Math Study Group
It is always more fun and productive to learn in a group rather than alone! Integrating into math study groups can help you digest math material easier. With multiple members in a group, students learn from each other and are introduced to math techniques that they did not already know beforehand.
Furthermore, it is likely that your group members also struggle in certain math topics of their own. They will be able to both give you advice and provide reassurance. Experiencing adversity while studying math is perfectly normal!
Ask Your Teacher for Help or Get a Tutor to Assist With the Difficult Math Topics
Tutors can be especially helpful when dealing with difficult math topics. Instead of spending hours trying to understand a certain problem. Which will eventually lead to frustration and a decline in motivation. Math tutors are able to guide students through the problem solving process step by step and provide them with tools on how to effectively find the solutions to calculations or equations.
However, if you are not yet ready to invest in a math tutor, asking your teacher for advice during office hours is a good place to start! Your teacher has taught the math material for several years and knows just about every way of how to solve the problems.
In addition, instructors have numerous students approach them every year who are struggling and in a similar situation as you. Educators are very experienced with assisting students in need and putting them on a path to succeed. Remember, you do not have to do this all by yourself!
Approach the Difficult Math Topics With a Confident and Positive Attitude
Confidence and positivity are the keys to conquering any tough school subject! Even if you are riding the lowest of lows and feel like it is impossible to dig yourself out of this academic hole. Always approach the lesson with a “I can do this attitude” and tackle it head on.
Focusing on the small daily victories instead of the bigger picture is an effective method to unlock this mindset. For example, if you are working on a complicated algebra problem that requires completing five separate steps to obtain the correct answer. Learning how to complete the first three steps by the end of a study session should be viewed as a win! You now know more than you did yesterday and are making positive strides towards improving in a challenging math area.
For parents, it is especially crucial to have a positive attitude when your child is struggling with a math topic. Your kind and encouraging words can be the difference between them getting through this mathematical obstacle or giving up entirely. Furthermore, providing them with an incentive or reward for making progress in a difficult math topic can be a beneficial idea as well.
Think Academy’s Classes
For those who are interested, we provide numerous different math courses for children in grades K-8. We have short-term basic math classes that can help improve your child’s fundamental math skills. These courses last only about four weeks.
In addition, we also have K-8 long-term classes to ensure that students master the math material in their respective grades. These semester-long courses are available in three different levels (Advancement, Mastery, ACE) to account for all learning speeds!
As for students who want to take their math skills to the next level. Think Academy provides math competition prep classes for events such as the AMC 8 and Math Kangaroo!
Check out one of our teachers in action!
You can register for any of our courses by clicking the link here or by downloading our app here.
1-on-1 Evaluation
As a reminder, before you register for our long-term courses. Make sure to schedule a free 1-on-1 evaluation if you have not already! Think Academy’s 1-on-1 evaluation contains an overview of our mission and academic structure, a 15-question evaluation exam, a one hour in-depth analysis, and a 15-minute teacher-to-parent discussion. After the evaluation, a customized study plan will be provided so that all of your child’s learning needs are met!
Think Academy Newsletter
Lastly, if you would like to receive free math resources such as worksheets, webinars, and more. Sign up for our newsletter by clicking the link here! The newsletter sign-up will be located at the bottom of the page and signing up will only take a few seconds. All you need to enter is your name, email address, and the grade your child is in.
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