Maths can be hard to learn at any age.
Why?
Well, many people believe it is down to what is known as Maths Anxiety.
What is Maths Anxiety?
Maths Anxiety is a phenomenon that has been around for more than 50 years, and it is something that affects many young mathematicians throughout primary school and some people their entire life beyond school. Maths anxiety is a negative emotional reaction to maths, leading to varying degrees of helplessness, panic and mental disorganisation that arise among some people when faced with a mathematical problem.
At least, that is the definition of maths anxiety, according to the Maths Anxiety Trust, but reactions to the concept of maths anxiety among adults may be divided. Some of you may not even know that it’s a real thing. Other people reading that statement are sitting there saying ‘ Oh my god! That’s me!’
Fear of maths isn’t restricted by age, gender, or even your school level.
One study found that 36% of younger (15-24 year-olds) people feel anxious about maths, compared to 10% of older people (65+), and some studies suggest that maths anxiety can begin very early when young children are learning basic number skills.
The best bit is now that you are aware of it, you can conquer it. Remember the 5 tips below and say goodbye to your maths fear!
- Confidence + Preparation = Success (Math Anxiety Formula).
- Overcome Negative Self Talk. (Shut down that voice that says I cannot)
- Read Your Math Text. (When you understand what is being asked of you, you will find a way to the answer)
- Ask Questions (Every question is relevant, that's why you hired that tutor)
- Consider Math as a Foreign Language (It must be practised daily for success. Always do your homework. You are building on a base of skills and concepts.)
Another way to limit your Maths Anxiety is regular exposure to maths. Associate maths with more than just school, exams and work. Try to start appreciating all the ways you use maths in everyday life.
How Do We Use Maths in Everyday Life?
Believe it or not, mathematics is in almost every single thing we do. In fact, it's used to help make all of the products we use on a daily basis from our mobile phones to our computers and even the cars we drive.
You're probably thinking yeah but that's really smart people who know how to use a high level of maths to do scientific jobs, fair enough. But you too use maths every single day without knowing it. How? I'm about to tell you.
Time Management
Every time you organise something, arrange to meet someone at a specific time or pick a child up from somewhere and organise your time. This involves maths. You have to know how long it takes to get to and from the destination as well as how long you'll be there. Not to mention how much time it will subtract from the rest of your schedule. You see, maths.
The Kitchen
Every single thing in the kitchen is mathematics! Portions, timing, sizes, recipes, spaces, temperatures... the list is long and I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
Budgets
Budgeting is important because it helps you control your spending, track your expenses, and save more money. It's so very important to know how much you earn and how much your expenses cost so that you can put a little extra money aside for a rainy day, or even a holiday.
What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a Specific Learning Disability that affects a person's ability to acquire arithmetical skills.
Typical symptoms include:
- Difficulty counting backwards.
- Difficulty remembering 'basic' maths facts.
- Slow to perform any calculations.
- Weak mental maths skills.
- A poor sense of numbers & estimation.
- Difficulty in understanding place value.
- Addition is often the default mathematical operation.
- Extreme levels of maths anxiety.
What Does Dyscalculia Look Like in Adults?If you struggle with math at home and in the workplace, you may have dyscalculia. This breakdown of common symptoms in adults may help you better understand this learning disability and its warning signs.
Dyscalculia in Adults
Dyscalculia just like other learning disabilities isn’t just for kids.
Adults with dyscalculia find it difficult to keep track of numbers, perform simple calculations, and memorize basic math facts. Dyscalculia in adults can affect everything from purchasing your morning coffee to driving to your friend’s house.
If you have dyscalculia as an adult, you may have had it from the moment you were born, or it may be the result of a brain injury or stroke. Either way, symptoms can present themselves in a wide range of ways; you may perform some math-related tasks without problems while struggling with others, or you may have challenges across the board.
Signs of Dyscalulia you might notice at home or in a social setting:
- Struggling to do mental math, such as calculate change or a tip in your head
- Frequently late, occasionally missing important events altogether
- Often driving too fast or too slow, or vastly misjudging how long it will take to drive somewhere
- Needing to write down a phone number immediately to remember it
- Getting lost easily; misplacing objects around the house frequently
- Struggling to keep score in games; often losing track of whose turn it is
- Slow to tell time on an analog clock
- Poor memory for anything number-related, like dates or facts
Signs of Dyscalulia you might notice at work:
- Trouble handling money or keeping track of finances
- Frequently runs out of time while doing a task, or fails to plan enough time for all the things that need to be done
- Trouble understanding graphs or charts
- Finds it hard to understand spoken math equations, even very simple ones
- Skips numbers or transposes them when reading a long list or spreadsheet
- Finds it difficult to use Excel formulas
- Using fingers to count or marking pages with tally marks to keep track of numbers
- Often getting several different answers to the same math problem; needing to check work over and over again
- Unable to remember timetables
If this sounds like you, you may be showing symptoms of dyscalculia. Getting an accurate evaluation, usually from an educational psychologist or another kind of learning specialist, is the first step to overcoming challenges and setting up the supports you need to be successful.
You Can Still Learn Maths
Just because you have severe Maths Anxiety or Dyscalculia, does not mean you have to quit maths. It's still possible for you to learn maths, it's just going to take more time, patience and determination.
Here are three strategies for making math concepts from basic arithmetic to advanced algebra easier to understand and remember.
Talk or Write Out a Problem
Talking through a problem or writing it down in sentence form can help with seeing relationships between the elements. Even restating word problems in a new way can help with organizing information and seeing solutions.
Draw the Problem
Drawing the problem can also help visual learners to see relationships and understand concepts. Students can “draw through” the problem with images that reflect their understanding of the problem and show ways to solve it.
“Real-Life” Cues and Physical Objects
Relating math to the practicalities of daily life can help make sense of concepts and see the relationships between numbers. Props like measuring cups, rulers and countable objects that students can manipulate can make math concepts less abstract.
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