Why do students struggle with math

Because of the low attention span, they might not read the entire question and as a result, skip steps or make mistakes. They put down answers impulsively or their handwritten work might be messy and hard to read. If you notice your students struggling in a similar way, it is important to guide them and give proper attention during and after class.

As mentioned before, not every student can cope with a particular method of teaching. Therefore, if your students are struggling you might want to switch to a different approach that is more engaging and easier to understand. Many teachers have turned to modern approaches like game-based learning to help engage their students better in class and also to make it easier for them to understand.

Game-based learning also helps students with short attention span to engage with class lessons since it is essentially a video game that they focus on. You can try puzzles, brain teasers or use an online math platform like Prodigy to assist you in class. Prodigy is a free game-based math platform for students that has numerous math challenges and puzzles for grades which helps them in solving curriculum-aligned math problems while battling monsters, earning badges, going on quests and more.

This math platform is specifically built to engage students so that they are able to solve math problems and learn about new topics in a fun and interactive way without losing any focus. Learn how Prodigy helps your students in the class. If your students are having trouble understanding basic concepts or applying them in practising math, it is important that you start with simpler problems that they can solve easily.

These simple questions are useful in developing their concepts and also grow their confidence. It has been found that students attempting the hardest problems first tend to lose interest in learning when they cannot solve them. So, always start by giving simple problems and gradually move onto difficult sums. This goes without saying that students need to practise math regularly, irrespective of whether they are struggling or not.

Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that causes students to struggle with formulas, shapes, and number-related concepts. This makes it difficult for them to understand and process math problems. The pressure and lack of confidence these students feel when faced with math causes their brain to freeze and forget even the things they do know. These students may have fallen behind in a unit or moved on to advanced material before they were ready, leading to falling grades.

Is your student struggling with math? Learn more about what signs you should be watching for and how to help. Read the blog post. Math is a very abstract subject. For students, learning usually happens best when they can relate it to real life. As math becomes more advanced and challenging, that can be difficult to do. Go to slide 1. Quick tip 2. Explain the math concept again. Go to slide 2. Quick tip 3.

Find a sample problem. Go to slide 3. Quick tip 4. Use objects to do math. Go to slide 4. Quick tip 5. Turn word problems into equations. Learn more. Dive deeper Examples of trouble with math. Math learning differences. The connection between math and anxiety. Next steps. Looking for specific ways to help kids build math skills? Related topics Math Math Root causes Root causes. Continue reading. Did you know? Tell us what interests you. See your recommendations. There was an issue saving your preferences.