Mathnasium of Oakville

There is a long-standing misconception that math is a subject that some students understand and others simply do not. While some students may possess an inborn talent for mathematics, this is only a small part of the equation when it comes to success in math class. Read on for a closer look at why the concept of the “math person” should be erased to create more positive attitudes toward this challenging subject.

Talent vs. practice

Students come to their math classes with different levels of readiness. Some have been exposed to various math concepts by their parents at early stages in their development. The students who have not had this additional preparation may develop a skewed perception of math class. When these “unprepared” students score low on the first few tests, they harbor an attitude of insecurity in their mathematics skills. Their assumption that certain students score higher on tests because of natural talent causes students to believe that they were just not born with math skills. They may then conclude they are not a “math person.” As this belief can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, it is imperative to help student gain confidence in their math abilities. In reality, practice and adequate study time can cause these skills to click for students and create long-term success in the classroom.

Non-static intelligence

Another belief that can keep students in a cycle of self-doubt and inadequate test preparation is the idea that intelligence is completely static. However, students who have the mindset that you can always become more intelligent tend to get higher grades and show drastic improvement with the application of new study skills. Studies have shown that convincing students to believe they can become smarter by working harder led to better grades.

It is important to note that success in math connects to success in other subjects –and vice versa. A student that is convinced he or she is not a math person can begin to worry about their overall intelligence, and that can lead to larger performance issues in school. Due to the challenges of learning math, students who become successful in math start to believe they can do well in any subject.

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