EXPERT: Never say ‘I am not a maths person’ in front of children
Who is responsible for making maths seem like a chore? Parents? Teachers?
It can be very frustrating for a student to be sat across from a parent with them saying, “I was never very good at maths” or “I’m not a maths person”. This can be damaging as it normalises the idea of being bad at maths for the child and validates any thoughts that being good at maths is a natural ability. There is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that every child believes the truth, which is that anyone can study maths successfully. Any student can succeed at anything if they are willing to put in the effort.
Is maths any more difficult to learn than biology or history?
The relational and cumulative understanding required to study mathematics to a high level means that it is a challenging subject, but that is what makes it worth studying. If mathematics was easy, then it would not be held in such high regard and the skills that are essential for being a good mathematician would not be so sought after by universities and employers. Are schools in the UAE making an effort to teach it in a more absorbable way? I think there has been a shift in many schools away from the classic “chalk and talk”. The way I was taught maths was probably representative of many experiences, being shown how to do a certain mathematical skill followed by lots of practice of that same skill. Since becoming a teacher, my experience is that it is the teacher’s responsibility to instill a love of learning in their students. Maths is a subject to be enjoyed and explored, not observed and regurgitated.
What is your approach?
By showing students my own passion for mathematics, my aim has always been to get pupils to enjoy learning and doing maths for the sake of maths. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a mathematical problem that initially looks difficult and then having the determination and resilience to successfully reach a solution.
My job as a teacher is to ensure that all pupils have the belief and tools to explore mathematics and try new concepts and ideas. Often this means dispelling the notion that the final answer is the most important aspect of mathematics. It is the journey towards the solution where most of the learning takes place.
Paul Bradwell, Subject Leader Mathematics, Kings School Barsha, Dubai, explains how parents and teachers can make the subject be appreciated for its beauty and application. There is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that every child believes the truth, which is that anyone can study maths successfully.” Paul Bradwell | Subject Leader Mathematics, Kings School, Barsha
Maths a male preference: myth or fact?
I think there is some way to go at the top of certain mathematically based fields, such as engineering. On the other hand, I am extremely proud of the fact that around half of our post-16 mathematicians and further mathematicians at Kings are girls. Some of the brightest young minds I have worked with have been girls. There is absolutely no reason for any gender disparity when it comes to mathematics.