When our children go to schools, we trust that they are given the care and education that they need. They go through a lot of subjects to help them acquire the skills they will need in the real world. However, it is inevitable that their young minds can find all the information overwhelming at times. It can also be both frustrating to the parent and the children when there is a particular subject that they do not like.

This is the case for Mathematics. It is considered a difficult subject for many children as they have a hard time grasping the concepts. Obviously, Math is a subject that just isn’t for everyone.

We can, however, instill in our children a positive outlook towards Math and teach them that it can be learned with time and patience. But for us to understand how we can help the children, we must first understand the reasons why they find it difficult. Here are just a few reasons why:

1. It has abstract concepts.

Mathematics is abstract by the simple fact that it uses symbols and other representations. It uses numbers and eventually, letters to explain a concept. It can be taxing to students to grasp what it is about. It can be considered as learning a new language since there are things that are only particularly taught in Math.

2. A shaky foundation leads to confusion.

The thing with Mathematics is that you have to understand the basics first before you can go to the more advanced lessons. If your foundation is not good enough, you’ll always have a hard time trying to make sense of it. You need to be able to comprehend concepts and formulas that were previously taught so you can go through with the other ideas or lessons.

3. You can’t make mistakes.

It is a rigid subject. In Mathematics, you have to understand how to solve problems and memorize the formulas. If you know all of the concepts, then you will find it easy to get the right answers. Furthermore, Mathematics only works when you get the right answer. A simple mistake in your solution can ruin your chances of solving the problem.

4. Just memorization is not enough. 

Yes, it is important to memorize formulas and how they are solved but sometimes just memorizing doesn’t cut it. It is crucial that children are actually analyzing rather than memorizing. Furthermore, memorization does help because if they rely on it too much, they are not encouraged to think critically. This is why teachers and schools encourage students to familiarize and not just simply memorize.

5. Practice makes perfect.

Since it is considered to be a demanding and challenging subject, it is important to hone the children’s skills. They must often try to engage in activities that could help them improve in Mathematics. Continuous practice or trying to solve as many problems as they can for at least a few hours in a day would significantly enhance their understanding of the subject.

6. Jumping onto other concepts without satisfactorily learning. 

Some students find it hard to keep up with their classmates. Some would be way behind in terms of comprehension, or they settle for average grades just as long as they pass. It is not good because when they get to their more advanced lessons, they’ll have a hard time trying to understand with just their meager knowledge.   

Conclusion

Based on all these reasons, we can see how Mathematics can be a challenging subject for some. This is where Math learning centers come into the picture. Izumi Philippines is an after school learning program and math center that aims to help elementary students improve their Mathematical skills through fun but educational activities. It is our aim to help our students love Math and collaborate with schools in developing the full potential of Filipino children.