The Reality of Learning Math

Why do so many students believe they are “bad at math,” and is that belief usually true?

I believe many students start believing they are “bad at math” very early in their education. When students struggle in elementary school with basic skills like multiplication, fractions, or number sense, those gaps tend to follow them for years.

Part of the issue today is that many students are taught math in ways that can be confusing, especially with some of the newer approaches introduced through Common Core, though that’s a topic for another day. If students don’t gain confidence with the fundamentals early on, they often begin to think math is something they simply cannot do.

Once that belief forms, it can become self-fulfilling. Students who believe they are “bad at math” tend to avoid it, give up more quickly, and approach new material with fear or frustration.

However, this belief can change. Sometimes all it takes is the right teacher, someone who can motivate them, rebuild their foundation, and show them that math does not have to be scary or impossible. When students experience success and begin to understand the “why” behind mathematics, their confidence can grow and their perception of themselves as math learners can change.

What is the biggest misunderstanding students have about mathematics?

Many students believe that math is hard, unimportant, and something they will never use in the real world. They often ask questions like:

• “When will I ever use solving equations?”
• “Why do I need to learn the quadratic formula?”
• “Why memorize formulas when I can just look them up?”

These questions usually come from a misunderstanding of what mathematics really is.

Math is not about memorizing formulas or blindly following procedures. At its core, mathematics is about seeing patterns, understanding relationships, and developing logical ways of thinking about problems.

If a math class is taught as simply:

• memorize this formula
• follow these steps
• plug numbers into the equation

then yes, math can become boring or frustrating, especially for students who already believe they are “bad at math.” When math is taught this way, students often learn it only long enough to pass a test and then quickly forget it.

The way I teach math is different. I want students to understand why we do what we do in each type of problem. When students understand the reasoning behind the mathematics, the procedures begin to make sense.

And when you truly understand the why, the how tends to take care of itself.

Why do some students suddenly “get” math after struggling for years?

A lot of it simply comes down to maturity. As students get older, their brains develop and they become better able to recognize patterns, relationships, and ideas in mathematics.

In many cases, the turning point happens when they finally get a great math teacher, someone whose teaching style matches the way they learn, and who can clearly and efficiently explain why we do each step in a problem.

While there is always some memorization involved in mathematics, true learning happens when students understand the reasoning behind the procedures. When they begin to see why things work the way they do, the steps start to make sense.

At that point, what once seemed confusing suddenly starts to click.

Is math talent real, or is it mostly persistence and practice?

I definitely believe that math talent is real. Some people naturally pick up mathematical ideas faster than others. Certain brains are simply wired in a way that allows them to grasp difficult mathematical concepts more quickly.

However, that does not mean others cannot become good at math. Anyone can become strong in mathematics if they have persistence and are willing to put in the right amount of practice.

This is something I emphasize in my classroom all the time. For example, when I teach factoring in Algebra 1, I tell my students that if they are struggling, they must persevere if they want to become great at factoring. It is a skill that improves with effort and repetition.

I also stress the importance of practice. Students need to do their homework legitimately. It is perfectly fine to get help, from a friend, from a tutor, or even from tools like ChatGPT, when they are stuck on difficult problems. But they must genuinely try to understand the material.

Otherwise, they are not really learning the math, they are simply getting the homework done.

Real learning happens when students struggle, think, practice, and slowly begin to see the patterns and ideas behind the mathematics.

When students ask “When will I ever use this?”, what is the honest answer?

My honest answer is: every day of your life.

Math in real life is not about factoring a trinomial or using the unit circle. But mathematics teaches you how to think. It trains your brain to develop important thinking skills.

Math teaches you how to:

• think logically
• analyze problems step by step
• persevere through difficult challenges
• pay attention to details

In a math problem, if you do not pay attention to the details, you solve the equation incorrectly.

In life, if you do not pay attention to details, you could lose your job.

So learning how to think carefully, solve problems, and persevere when something is difficult is actually very important, far beyond mathematics.

How does mathematical thinking apply outside STEM fields?

I feel this is really a continuation of the last question. Once again, what students learn in mathematics is not just about numbers or formulas. Mathematics teaches students how to persevere, think logically, and analyze information in order to arrive at sound conclusions.

It also teaches students how to think in a step-by-step way when working through the struggles and obstacles that life inevitably brings. In many situations, the first reaction that comes to mind is not always the best one. Math helps train the mind to slow down, examine the problem, and consider different possible solutions before acting.

That kind of thinking is exactly what mathematics trains you to do.

In other words, mathematics teaches students to ask:

• Is there more than one way to solve this problem?
• What happens if I choose this path instead of that one?
• What are the consequences of my decision?

Those habits of mind are valuable in every area of life, not just in STEM fields.