Why Do Some Kids Hate Math?
Math is a subject that holds the key to problem-solving and critical thinking, but it often becomes the bane of many students’ academic journeys. The question that plagues educators, parents, and students alike is: Why do kids hate math? Here are three key factors that contribute to this aversion and what you can do to build confidence & enjoyment for this subject.
Read More: Is It Math Anxiety or Dyscalculia? >>
Struggles with Logic & Reasoning:
One significant reason for a child’s disdain for math may stem from difficulties in logic and reasoning skills. Mathematics is inherently logical, requiring students to follow a series of steps and apply reasoning to solve problems. For some children, developing these skills might not come naturally, leading to frustration and a negative attitude towards math.
Signs of weak logic & reasoning include:
- Trouble recognizing patterns
- Issues with knowledge transfer (knowing when to do what with different kinds of problems)
- Poor critical thinking and trouble thinking “outside the box”
- Getting stuck often and not knowing what to do next
- Struggling with word problems
Poor Visual Processing:
Another common obstacle that students face in math is poor visual processing. Math often involves working with symbols, diagrams, and spatial relationships. In addition, numbers can be VERY hard to manipulate and manage if you can’t envision what you’re dealing with. The number 3 is confusing in a math problem if you’re not immediately creating a mental image of three objects.
Signs of weak visual processing include:
- Challenges with understanding and manipulating numbers, shapes, and symbols
- Inability to do mental math (resorting to using fingers for basic calculations)
- Trouble with shapes, area, perimeter, and other tasks that require visual manipulation
- Struggling with puzzles
Lack of Retrieval Fluency and Long-Term Memory:
The ability to retrieve information quickly and store it in long-term memory is crucial for success in math. Kids who struggle with retrieval fluency may find it challenging to recall basic math facts or follow multi-step procedures. This can result in frustration, hindering their overall math performance.
Signs of weaknesses in long-term memory and retrieval fluency:
- Slow work, even with basic math facts
- Needing to use fingers or manipulatives constantly
- Losing their place in multi-step problems because they get caught up in basic operations
- Struggling with flash cards, speed math, or other tests of quick recall
- Trouble with memorization of math facts, formulas, and other key foundational elements of math
Looking for fun, low-pressure ways to practice math skills? Check out these 7 math games (that are actually fun) >>
Building a Solid Cognitive Foundation for Math
Despite what many of our kids believe, solid math skills are critical for “real life” outside of school. They DO need to have these problem-solving skills solid in order to have the confidence to face complex questions in daily life.
Kids who “hate math” often just find it hard, inaccessible, or out of reach. By targeting these foundational skills, you can open up a world of understanding and math confidence!
At LearningRx, we have a personalized math skills training program that looks at exactly which skills are weak for each individual. By building a customized program to target these weaknesses, we’re able to help individuals of all ages grow in skills and confidence! Between 2010 and 2018, more than 3,500 students completed our math program and improved math skills by 3.2 years on average.*
These skills translate to so many areas beyond just math class. If you have a student who hates math or finds it especially difficult, give us a call today to learn more about how starting with the brain is essential to create lasting change!
*Results based on past clients. Outcomes may vary.
