Learning Math is wonderful – and not that hard through many levels.
Learning Math is Wonderful.
Feb 10, 2025
I am not easily good at Mathematics. I withdrew from the subject after the very mediocre few years at high school. I can blame all manner of things but the basic truth is that I did not know how to learn in this are and was not committed to it. I believed the perpetually trending – “when will you use this in the real world?”
So … when I was choosing my University courses I chose the “descriptive” Economics. I then discovered that my second year papers were pretty much all calculus or statistics.
I had to go back to the very basics and build from there.
These are the basics:
Mathematics is “do-able” (not necessarily always easy but you CAN do it).
- There are only four functions to master (+,-,/,x) similar to tennis only having 5 shots.
- There are rules to follow like sport has rules e.g. BEDMAS as order of operations.
- Attack the language! Mathematics is like any language and the words/symbols can appear daunting but all are understandable and have purpose. Parents can do this every moment of every day. Measures re cooking, Money items – e.g. change from spending. One true key …. NEVER be negative about the subject!!
- Do significant purposeful practice and ALWAYS get HELP when stuck. Don’t stop practicing until the fog clears and you go “AHA!”. Don’t worry about the person ahead of you – he/she has done more practice – play the long game with confidence.
- Always get 100%. This might not be in the moment but review, get help and correct all problems & tests. Making mistakes is no big deal – not fixing them with understanding is.
Always happy to help with individual circumstances.
This method is not theoretical. I have always applied it to the learnng of my own children and those that I have taught. Those that have followed it have become incredible at the subject – reragless of their “natural ability”.
Alwyn Poole
https://alwynpoole.substack.com
alwyn.poole@gmail.com