Mathnasium centers are math-specialized learning centers that any child can attend year-round to boost math skills and knowledge. Marsha Rimokh is the managing director of the Boca Raton, Florida, branch of Mathnasium. Whether you’ve hated math since kindergarten or suddenly have found yourself at war with Algebra, have no fear! Math concepts aren’t mysterious and elusive gems of knowledge that can only be attained by those with a natural built-in calculator. All math concepts up to precalculus- including algebra, multiplication, fractions, and much more- can be taught and mastered.
If you’re feeling lost or behind in math class, it’s NOT because you’re less intelligent or just “not good at math.” Au contraire! The truth is, somewhere along the line, you may have missed out on a math concept that has effected your current performance. Or, you may just be thinking about math a way that is making things more complicated for you.
The instructors at Mathnasium learning centers work with you to identify exactly which concepts and skills you need help with. By analyzing which concepts you haven’t completely mastered yet and how you think about math, Mathnasium is able to create a customized curriculum that works with both your strengths and weaknesses, taking you from areas in which you excel and then smoothly onto unknown territory, helping you through the concepts and ideas you’ve been struggling with.
No matter where you go for additional math help, these tips will come in handy:
- Be honest: “Don’t fool yourself”, says Rimokh.“If you’re struggling, it’s time to get help.” Often times, parents will notice when their young child doesn’t seem to be understanding their homework. In high school and middle school, however, it may be easier for a student to “just get by.” This is why, especially as a middle or high schooler, it’s important to recognize when you are falling behind or feeling like you are “just not getting it.” The sooner you recognize that you’re struggling, the sooner you won’t be anymore. Get to the heart of the problem before homework and concepts start piling up and you are at risk at falling behind. The next step?
- Ask for help: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or admit when you simply don’t understand a math problem. In fact, you should feel proud for doing so. By asking for help, you have taken initiative and control of your education. You’ve also made the first and most important step in improving. How mature of you!
- Get analytical: At some point during your education, you may have missed out really mastering a math concept, or you may have started to think about certain math problems in a way that actually makes things way harder than they need to be. One of the smartest and most effective things you can do as a struggling math student is to analyze yourself as a mathematician. Where are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you actually understand the concept of multiplying with decimals? Or did you just memorize a few tricks to help you pass that test a while ago? Are you able to think through medium-sized problems in your head, or do you have to write it out for it to make any sense at all? Understanding where you are lacking in fundamental math knowledge and skill is incredibly useful. Whether you are learning on your own or getting help from someone else, focusing on the areas in which you are lacking is key to present and future academic improvement. “It will not get better if you don’t fill in the learning gaps,” warns Marsha Rimokh.
- Don’t get frustrated: Being called on by a teacher when you don’t know the answer to the problem. Working on the same math homework question for almost an hour and still not coming up with an answer that you know is right. Getting a low score on a quiz you thought you did at least OK on. All these situations are common with students who are struggling in math, and all can be frustrating. But, as with most tough situations, it’s important to keep your cool. Instead of beating yourself up over a missed answer or turning into one of those kids who “ugh, hate math,” move forward and stay positive. You’ve recognized you’re struggling and you’ve asked for help. Now with a little hard work and the right guidance, you’re moving closer and closer to math success.
