Next week students will be heading back to school and university, but many are probably dreading the idea because of mathematics’ fearsome reputation.
Parents can help by not being vocal about the issue and instead helping their children enjoy math, says Dr. Melania Alvarez (she/her), Outreach and Education Coordinator at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and the UBC Faculty of Mathematics, and Dr. Lindsey Daniels (she/her), Assistant Professor for Teaching in the Department of Mathematics.
We asked her how to pave the way for children to succeed.
Why do you think some young people are afraid of math?
MA: Most children like math when they are very young, but when they hear from their teachers, parents, and people around them that math is hard or difficult, a fear of math or anxiety develops.
Instead, it is important for parents to talk about the importance of math and how fun and interesting it can be.
LD: One of the problems for students leaving high school and going to university is uncertainty. At university, classes are much larger and the pace of learning is often faster.
What can parents do to encourage their children’s success in mathematics?
MA: Parents can expose their children to fun and interesting math activities at any age. For example, did you know that you can make a living doing origami for NASA?
There are many games you can play and they don’t necessarily have to cost money. For example, when you’re on the road, you can use the numbers on license plates to get to a specific number. We’ve put together a resource with more games like this.
Lead by example and show interest in math. When children see their parents reading, they read themselves. It’s the same with math. Teach them to think like a mathematician by asking them, “How did you use math today?”
LD: It’s important to be consistent. Math is like stacking LEGOs – it’s OK if one brick is missing when building a wall, but if several bricks are missing, the wall will crumble. We need a strong foundation before moving on to new concepts.
Support your child: If they come home with a bad test score, help them figure out what topics they need to work on and develop a successful study strategy to move forward. Everyone has gotten a bad grade – even those of us with PhDs in math! It’s an opportunity to figure out where a piece is missing and fill that gap.
How can parents support young people when they start their studies?
LD: Parents can support their children in asking for help, whether from the teacher, teaching assistant, or the math help center on campus, including the one at UBC. Offer to walk with them or watch some YouTube videos like Numberphile and 3Brown1Blue and take notes together.
Encourage your child to set themselves up for success: attending class, taking notes, going to office hours, finding a study strategy that works for them, and using it consistently. This will look different for every student. It may take a semester or two, so it’s best to start early.
A good strategy is to ask them to teach you the concept or terminology, because to explain something coherently you really need to know it. Ask with enthusiasm to show your interest.
What can parents do if they notice that their child is having problems?
MA: Making mistakes is part of learning. Talk about the mistake and work on it together to find a way forward.
LD: It’s absolutely fine to tell your child, “I don’t know, but I’m going to start asking questions.”
Validate your child’s feelings: It’s OK that this is challenging. Offer to solve a problem together, or find an easier problem to start with. Write down questions for the teacher together. And ask about available materials at school that you can look at together.
