| Remember struggling through math class? | | | | solve it. Solving math problems is just like |
| Remember learning fractions? For most people | | | | solving any type of problem. It is a process |
| it was not a happy experience. For new | | | | where different approachs must be tried and |
| teachers, facing a room of young faces, | | | | intuition and creativity play a part. When |
| teaching math can be intimidating. The first | | | | you learn how to swim, you start at the |
| step is to set aside any emotional reactions | | | | shallow end of the pool. 5. Logic is needed |
| based on your experiences, and approach it | | | | for math and intuition is not needed. |
| fresh, with an open mind. Perhaps more than | | | | Intuition is one of the most important aspect |
| other subjects there are a huge number or | | | | of problem solving. Everyone has intuition, |
| misconceptions about teaching math and | | | | we just haven't learned to use or trust it. |
| hopefully this article will dispel 'myths | | | | 6. Logic is needed for math not creativity. |
| about math.' Lets look at a few: 1. Math | | | | It requires imagination, intellect, |
| ability is inherited. Perhaps this comes from | | | | intuition, and aesthetic about the rightness |
| our "genius parents produce genius children" | | | | of things. 7. There is one right way to get |
| myth, which has absolutely no basis. | | | | the right answer. Math problems can be |
| Confidence is very important for math just | | | | solved in a variety of ways. There is no best |
| like anything else. Most students that apply | | | | way. 8. Counting on your fingers is bad. |
| themselves, are reasonable confident and with | | | | Counting on fingers shows an understanding of |
| average intelligence do well in math. 2. | | | | arithmetic, rather than memorized. |
| You don't need to study for math. Somehow | | | | |
| math is different! Really! Wouldn't that be | | | | Learning math is more important than ever in |
| nice! Unfortuneatly, here in the real world, | | | | today's technologically advancing world. |
| math is just like any other subject and | | | | Technology requires that we solve more |
| requires study and practice. 3. Boys are | | | | difficult and complex problems all the time. |
| better mathematicians than girls. This is | | | | Thinking clearly about math yourself is the |
| pure gender-based stereotyping, which has no | | | | first step in teaching children to also |
| basis. 4. If you don't know how to solve a | | | | thinking clearly about math. |
| problem after you read it, you probably can't | | | | |