Ever stared at a problem and thought, “This is taking me forever. I must be bad at math”?
Not true.
I have shared my story about how I failed this subject because of algebra. I didn’t understand the transition from seeing numbers to seeing letters. Thankfully, I had a mother who persevered (by enrolling me in extra tutorials) even when I didn’t feel like I could get it. Today, even if you wake me up from a 24 hour sleep and ask me to solve algebra, I can do it.
We have to realize that “speed isn’t the same as intelligence”. Some of the best problem-solvers actually move slowly. They pause, check details, and make fewer mistakes. Think of it like driving. Racing doesn’t always get you to the finish line; sometimes it just gets you lost faster. If you or your child is not getting that topic or subject right now, be patient with yourself or them. Involve them in extra classes/lessons. Use real life scenarios to explain to them. Get them to watch videos to understand the topic well. Above all, be patient.
If it takes you 10 minutes to understand something, you’ve still learned it. That knowledge is yours forever. Struggling isn’t failure, it’s the process of learning.
Affirmation: Even if I don’t understand it right now, I will get it. I take steady and slow steps but I am moving towards my goal of getting better at math!