Be Careful with the Signs
Rowena D. Pangilinan
Life itself is complicated. W ith many struggles people are experiencing every day, who wouldn’t love to have an easy life? Yet it is something that is not easy to achieve. In order to have an easy life, someone must experience hardship. They say life is like Math. If it goes too easy, something is wrong.
There are students who are really not fond of mathematics. Mathematics is a challenging subject to master by students, from primary school to university (Shafie, Shahdanb & Liew, 2010). Some are scared just the mere sight of formula and long method of solving a problem while some are too lazy to even think and just try to do shortcuts without even trying to analyze the math problems. Math anxiety (MA) has been a matter of concern in education for a long time and refers to the state of fear, tension, and apprehension when individuals engage with math (Ashcraft, 2002; Ashcraft and Ridley, 2005). It is a common behavior of some students towards mathematics without even realizing that it is something that is always present in people’s lives.
There are several signs which proves that math has always been present in one’s lives.
First, children growing up helping their parents do the house choir. From cleaning, children learn to know the shapes and figures of the plates, glasses, and utensils. From cooking, children learn the amount of measurement needs to be included in the ingredients for cupcakes, pancakes, and frying eggs. Subconsciously, children are doing math as they grow up.
Second, children playing outdoors. Unknowingly, they learn the probability or the chances that they lose in a specific game. Playing tag of war, they learn how much force and speed they need to give in order to win. Hide and seek will help them calculate and think critically while trying to find their playmates. Playing the spider web gives the children the chance to think of a solution on how to cross the other end of the stick and to think of a strategy on how to beat the opponent. Innocently, children are doing math as they play outdoors.
Third, while doing the art of waiting. Children do addition and subtraction when they are trying to save money for a toy or dress they like to buy at the mall, when they wait for remaining days before their actual birthday, or when they are patiently waiting for the day their mother or father comes home.
Math is present all the time whether a person is aware or not. It exists in nature. Its purpose is subtle and must have been hidden but it must not be forgotten. Just as how much children focus on other learning areas, they should focus and give an equal attention in learning Math too for it is very essential.
Indeed, Math is complicated, so is life. There are many problems and challenges that needs to be solve in order to move forward. Yet, the process is hard. One needs to use the long method and make sure to always check the procedure thoroughly. No shortcuts. No guessing. Therefore, one must be careful and must think critically. There is this saying that Math can be related to our lives. it teaches us to always be careful with the signs.
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The author is Master Teacher
I at Dau Elementary School