Mathematics: Though shall not fear

Aileen D. Macalintal

As known to be the study of the sciences of numbers, quantities, geometry and forms, Mathematics has played a vital role in Education system that is very essential and crucial to the growth and effective learning performance of learners. However, even though it is said to be an important matter and necessary subject to learn, most students generally define this as a difficult material module and probably one of the least appreciated course.

Knowing that fact, it is just true that students tend to get frightened with this core subject for it deals with the logic of shape, quantity, and arrangement, to which they find as complicated and difficult to answer.

With that being said, it is greatly proven that having math anxiety has a huge impact to students’ capacity learning progress leading them a falling grade. Thus, the thinking they have towards the subject might lead them to skip Mathematics class or worse drop the course.

So, what probably are the reasons why students are afraid of Mathematics?

First, students loss their sight to Mathematics due to their poor interest and study habits. Lacking interest in mathematics may affect a person’s behaviour toward the subject, if they feel comfortable with the subject or not or do they like it or not. Moreover, another one reason is their unhealthy study habits that badly influence their developing strategies to do a study plan or effective learning style that could help them in their studies.

Furthermore, the teaching skills and ways of the teachers may also be considered as one of the reasons of having Math anxiety. The way they deliver their lessons and how they present or introduce the subject to the students, greatly impact how the students would appreciate the subject.

As to leave the negatives, despite of those factors affecting the learners’ thinking about Mathematics. There are still a lot of following things to do to be able to become more resilient and knowledgeable to the subject.

Here are some.

Personality traits of a teacher could help students adjust with the subject; it is a sign of characteristics to which students need. Also, effective instructional materials are useful to guide students regarding the subject. Those materials could be in a form of textbook, multimedia, or lectures.

Additionally, to even assist them to learn Mathematics course subject, teachers and parents should understand that learners have their own learning capabilities – some may not comfortable in listening with the traditional mathematics discussion while the others are visual learners and they prefer learning with visual aids to better understand a context.

Overall, the ability to learn is still on the hands of each student. And, the just thing to do comes from the manner on how the teachers approach and communicate to them and how also students to their job just to learn.

The author is Teacher

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III at Dapdap High School, Bamban, Tarlac