Neuroscientists have recently made a startling discovery as to why so many students these days are having trouble with math. Brain imaging has shown that starting at a young age, a simple problem in arithmetic can trigger a fight-or-flight reaction. When this occurs, the systems in the brain that support learning math are compromised, leading to more and more problems in higher grades. Self-Reg sets out to understand why this is happening; how we can prevent it from happening in the first place; and what can be done to help a student whose “math alarm” has already been “kindled.”
Read more about the Self-Reg view of Math on Psychology Today:
This video reminds me of what we went through with our son in school during his year of grade one, which is not math related but related to how one assumes they are not trying or doing their best. Very quickly the teacher came to me saying she thought my son was definitely ADHD. Something we never saw at home, so right away asked myself why, why is he wanting to get up during board lessons, why is he so fidgety? All year I tried to work with him to improve this but nothing worked. At the end of grade one he was well below the passing standard so we decided to keep him back. Thus, the journey during the summer months began as we started to investigate the whys. First, a doctor appointment then one with a developmental pediatrician. It was then, through testing that we had discovered he had a phonological awareness disorder which turns out to be hereditary. My husband had the same thing as a child but back then things were not diagnosed as easily. Once we got the diagnosis we flew into high gear with helping him to learn the way he needed too. It was a long process that lasted a few years of school begore he was considered in the normal range. But it was through my determination and focus that helped my child and get the answers needed to the whys.
child’s dislike for math can stem from several factors, including difficulty grasping fundamental concepts, anxiety about making mistakes, or a belief that math is boring or irrelevant. Some children may also struggle with math due to learning disabilities or challenges with working memory, which is essential for many math tasks
Thanks for sharing, Stany! Considering the Self-Reg connections here, how might we help reduce stressors for kids around math?
Aviva
* Fear of failing
* Feel complex maths has no use in life
* Lack of understanding
* Ineffective teaching method
* Too much pressure
* Comparison with peers
* Early bad experience lasts lifetime
You have highlighted many different ideas here, Stany. Considering these possibilities, how might we help reduce the stress around math? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Aviva
Why does my Child hate Math.? There are many reasons why a child would dislike math. Scared of failure. Very overwhelming. Not understanding the procedure to take in order to get the answer. Process of elimination is always changing, myself today as an older adult sometime feels like a failure and I dont understand how they get that particular answer, when I was taught a totally different method, and now I can’t get the right answers. Methods are always changing, so I can understand the reasoning behind feelings that come about when trying to do “todays” math.
Thanks for sharing some of your ideas, Tracy! I wonder if it’s when we slow down and really think about these stressors, that we also see them more and can address them better. What do you think?
Aviva
I think if I just slow down, keep trying, maybe use some mathematical tools. Maybe blocks.. I am a hands on learner, so it may take a bit for me to get the right answer, and just knowing that I will keep trying is a big stress reliever for me.
This is great to hear, Tracy! I wonder how many students would feel the same way. What do you think?
Aviva
I can relate to all of these stressors Stany. They feel real thats for sure.
Tracy
Thanks for sharing, Tracy! Knowing that these are stressors for you, what do you do to reduce them? I would love to hear more.
Aviva
Always keep trying and never give up.. maybe work beside a good friend. Buddy up with a partner that can show you some ideas on how to solve mathematical problems. Less stress.
Thanks for sharing these ideas, Tracy! Have you tried them in a classroom before? How did students respond? I would love to hear more.
Aviva
I never liked math looking at multiple math problems was overwhelming I couldnt focus or would fidget alot so had trouble retaining information always worring I would fail or if I had a math test focus on the time I had to do the test I feel this was partly because I wasnt diagnosed with ADHD until I was an adult and partly because I found it boring. So working as an adult in a kindergarten/grade 1 class I always try to make math fun I dont try put time on work and always do a mix of hands on and paper work. If I notice the child is struggling when I first explain how to figure out a problem if I see that they didnt get what I was explaining I would try using a different way to explain. Because I remember myself as a child I had help with math weather it be from my parents or a tutor one person could explain how to work out a math problem one way and I wouldnt get it however when someone else explained it a different way and it was hands on it was easier.
Thanks for your comment and sharing about your experiences! You’re making me think about the well-being component of the Math Curriculum now, and if more thinking around these expectations might change perspectives and attitudes towards math. Thoughts?
Aviva