Like most students, I didn’t consider myself a “math person,” and thankfully, I had an excellent teacher who believed in me and encouraged me. And this experience made me realize that how math is taught typically impacts how students perform and enjoy the subject.
So why math is taught poorly in schools? It turns out that the way math is approached and taught in school today has a lot to do with it. The truth is that mathematics is one of the most important topics we learn in school, yet many students struggle to understand and enjoy it.
And almost every job, including the highest paying jobs and the highest satisfaction, requires at least skills you learn in standard high school math classes.
This blog post will explore some of the issues surrounding math education and what can be done to improve it.
You might also enjoy reading: 8 Fun And Exciting Math Activities For Middle School.
1- Math Teachers Aren’t Making Math Classes Engaging, also known as “Bad Pedagogy.”
One of the most common reasons math is taught poorly in schools is that math teachers don’t make their classes exciting for their students.
I believe that teaching mathematics requires deep knowledge and understanding of its principles, which doesn’t come easily or quickly for many people. Without this knowledge base, teachers may find themselves ill-equipped to deliver instruction on mathematical concepts accurately.
Teachers end up having boring math classes, and without fully grasping fundamental math skills, their students resort to memorization techniques instead of learning real-world applications of math or problem-solving skills.
As a teacher, you can improve the quality of your math class by using creative ways to make teaching and learning math fun and engaging. If you are looking for helpful tips, I encourage you to read this article, discussing the top 9 teaching strategies in mathematics for improved student engagement.
2- Problem-Solving Strategies Are Not Taught Enough
Many students struggle with math because they don’t have the problem-solving skills necessary to understand it. That’s because many schools focus too much on memorization and rote learning rather than teaching students how to actually think through problems.
Students often feel overwhelmed and frustrated when they encounter difficult math problems without proper problem-solving strategies.
While teaching is a skill and all educators are valuable, many teachers are ruining their students’ hope of ever understanding math concepts because they don’t understand essential math principles.
I suggest you teach your students how to write a mathematical investigation to help them make real-life connections with the math they learn in class.
3- Math Is Too Abstract For Many Students
Another reason why many students struggle with math is that it can be an abstract subject. For example, some concepts like algebra or geometry require students to visualize things in their minds that they may not be able to see in real life. This can cause confusion and make it difficult for students to understand the material.
Additionally, some concepts are so abstract that even teachers have difficulty explaining them clearly or helping their students truly grasp them.
Mathematics should be a tool for improving students’ thinking power, but for many children, it is just a set of pointless rules for manipulating symbols.
Tips: Include project-based math problems whenever possible.
4- Math Is Not Always Made Relevant
In addition, many students don’t understand why they need to learn certain topics in math because they don’t see how those topics are relevant to their lives outside of school. This makes it difficult for them to connect with the material or find any interest or motivation in learning about it.
If teachers could explain why certain concepts matter and how they can be applied beyond the classroom walls, then perhaps more students would find interest in learning about them.
Tips: Make teaching and learning math more relevant; take your students to meet people who use math daily. This can be start-up founders, engineers, or even entrepreneurs.
5- Lack of Engaging Material
Another factor contributing to poor mathematics teaching is the lack of engaging material or activities used in the classroom.
With digital technology becoming increasingly prevalent, there are now more options available than ever for teachers to find ways to make math more interesting for their students.
However, many schools still rely on outdated methods such as lectures and worksheets that do nothing but bore students instead of inspiring them to learn more about math and its uses in everyday life.
6- Low-Stakes Tests
Lastly, low-stakes tests are often used in classrooms to determine student performance, with little emphasis placed on actually learning the material itself. This can cause students to focus less on retaining information and more on simply passing the test with minimal effort, which does not help when it comes time to apply those skills in other areas, such as college-level courses or real-world applications outside school walls.
By making tests higher stakes and emphasizing long-term retention over short-term recall, students will have greater motivation to learn the material thoroughly instead of just aiming for passing grades.
If we can find ways around these issues, we can ensure that all students receive the high-quality education they deserve when it comes time to study mathematics, both now and into their futures beyond school life.
7- Most Students Were Taught That Math Is Supposed To Be Hard
Because there is almost a common belief that math is supposed to be hard, most students give up before even trying their best. As a math teacher, your job is to encourage your students to try their best by helping students improve their self-esteem and self-confidence.
The more confident students are, the harder they try when solving math problems. And as we all know, the key to solving a math problem is to try harder and stay longer on math questions.
Pros Tips: Use different ways to grade your students, and don’t solely base your grading on answers. Instead, I suggest you give your students partial marks for trying or finding the right steps for solving a question.
Why Do Students Perform Poorly In Mathematics?
Students perform poorly in mathematics mainly because of low motivation caused by several factors, including math anxiety and poor understanding of how to apply and perform mathematical operations.
Students’ most common math challenges include difficulty remembering math facts, formulas, concepts, rules, sequences, and procedures, according to the University of Washington (UW).
What to read next:
- Best Ways to Learn Calculus (With helpful tips)
- Top 9 Creative Ways to Teach Mathematics to High School Students.
- Introduction to Logarithmic Functions.
Wrapping Up
Math education has come a long way over the years, but there’s still room for improvement. Teaching problem-solving skills, ensuring concepts are explained clearly and concisely, and ensuring mathematics stays relevant will go a long way toward helping more students succeed with this important subject.
With enough effort from educators and parents alike, hopefully, more children will soon develop a better understanding of mathematics and thrive as a result!