Tackling Myths about Math
Tackling Myths about Math
It’s no secret that math can be daunting for many people.
For some, it conjures up images of long and complicated equations that are nearly impossible to solve.
Others may have faced difficulties in the past and come to believe that they simply aren’t “math people.”
But the truth is, with the right approach and attitude, anyone can be good at math.
As a parent, you may face your fears and dislike for math, which may interfere with your ability to successfully model it for your child.
Rather than approach math with an attitude of defeat. Let’s look at some common myths around math and debunk some of these misconceptions.
Here are some of the most common myths about math.
Tackling Myths about Math – Myth #1… You are either good at math or you’re not.
Ahem…False!
While society may place a higher value on those who have a natural skill to memorize formulas or perform calculations quickly, this does not mean these learners are better at math than others. Every student is capable of doing mathematics.
Since each student learns differently, parents and teachers must put away any preconceived notions to find ways of engaging and teaching their learning style.
A great place to begin is by administering an authentic math skills assessment to determine where your child is in their current math skills. From here, you can focus on areas to strengthen and build upon.
Tackling Myths about Math – Myth #2… You don’t need to know math in the real world.
You may have heard students ask the question, “When will I ever need this?” when trying to teach a math concept.
Unfortunately, many kids don’t realize the importance of having strong foundational math skills and how we use them in everyday life.
For example, shopping, traveling, building, designing, earning income, and so much more are all regular activities in life that require strong math skills.
Tackling Myths about Math – Myth #3… Math isn’t fun!
There is a common misconception that math is not a fun or engaging subject and that it is strictly about problem-solving and memorizing formulas.
However, the reality is that math can be exciting, with all sorts of applications to real-world problems and fascinating discoveries.
There are countless opportunities to explore and enjoy new concepts. With today’s technology and vast resources, educators have the opportunity to present math lessons in a stimulating and engaging way.
Math isn’t just about crunching numbers or solving equations; it’s about building new understandings of the universe all around us, and it can indeed be fun!
Tackling Myths about Math – Myth #4… Math is only about memorization.
While memorization is one part of learning math, it is not the whole story. If students relied on memorizing alone, there would be no room for critical thinking, and that would be terrible!
Many math concepts require students to understand more about the process and solution to properly solve a problem.
This deeper thinking goes beyond math- it allows kids to explore concepts and various approaches to finding solutions for different problems.
Tackling Myths about Math – Myth #5… Math is only for boys.
Contrary to popular belief, boys are not inherently better at math than girls.
Though boys may sometimes outperform girls on standardized math tests, girls are more likely to go on to college and earn post-graduate degrees, which involves a great deal of higher-level math requirements.
In addition, research has shown that once girls are given an equal opportunity to succeed in math, they often outperform their male peers. Overall, it seems clear that the belief that boys are better at math than girls is just a myth.
The truth is that both boys and girls have the potential to excel at math and other STEM subjects if they are given equal opportunities to do so.
Closing Thoughts
There is no question that good math skills are important for everyone to have.
Math is an everyday part of life and the more we encourage and support our children in developing a strong foundation, the more confident they will be in this subject area.
By tackling myths about math early on, we will prepare our kids to approach the subject with assurance and trust in their ability to be successful.
While myths about math will continue to float around, we can take comfort in knowing they are just that… Myths!
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