Mathematics is a subject many students struggle with for various reasons. Difficulty understanding the fundamentals and grasping complex concepts can make it challenging to answer questions correctly. Maths tuition classes can help students improve and find new ways to understand the subject, giving them the skills and confidence they need to excel.
Common Issues Faced by Weak Students
For many students, mathematics is generally their least favourite subject to learn. Given the fast pace and increasingly complex concepts introduced, it is understandable why students still struggle. Even so, knowing the common difficulties students face when learning the subject can help parents and teachers better support their maths education.
Knowledge Gaps
A lack of foundational mathematical knowledge is a significant issue for students. Maths concepts build on one another, and gaps in one concept can impact a student’s understanding of another. It also means that students are unable to connect mathematical concepts and formulae to mathematical problems, let alone to real-world scenarios.
Ineffective Teaching Methods
In some cases, specific teaching methods may be ineffective at delivering a lesson plan that supports students’ understanding and helps them excel in specific maths concepts. This can impact students’ overall knowledge and contribute to difficulties in solving maths problems.
Rote Memorisation
Students may end up memorising concepts and formulae without understanding how to apply them correctly, which can exacerbate their struggles with comprehending maths lessons.
Maths Anxiety
All of these factors contribute to an additional issue: students become apprehensive about their ability to solve complex maths problems. They take a more passive approach to learning, are reluctant to learn from their mistakes, and believe that they cannot learn at all. This can be reinforced by teachers, peers, and even family members, which only deepens the demotivation.
How Maths Tuition Helps Students
Personalised maths tuition can be beneficial for weak students who struggle to score well in Mathematics. They provide various teaching solutions to strengthen their fundamentals and address their weaknesses, building their confidence in the subject.
Personalised Tutoring
A one-size-fits-all approach does not always work in teaching students the fundamentals. Every student has areas in which they struggle, and identifying their weaknesses early can help craft a tailored approach that meets their individual learning needs. This approach provides in-depth tutoring and support that caters to their strengths and shores up problem areas. It ensures students gradually understand what is being taught until they can solve maths problems independently.
Creative Teaching Approaches
Maths tuition tutors are well-equipped to teach Mathematics, but they do not solely rely on tried-and-true teaching methods. They can utilise creative teaching approaches to help students better understand the concepts they learn and how to use specific formulae to solve certain maths problems. These can take the form of mnemonics, which are visual or verbal cues to facilitate recalling maths concepts or formulae, or regular use of diagrams or graphics to reinforce lessons and make maths feel approachable to students.
Consistent Practice
Personalised teaching is one thing, but consistency is also key to setting the stage for their success. Maths tuition is held regularly on specific days each week, providing ample lessons and exercises for students to practice and steadily improve their maths foundations. Repeating these learning and revision sessions empowers students over time, allowing them to solve maths problems independently. This, in turn, raises their confidence and competence in the subject.
Peer Support
Despite small class sizes, maths tuition is still a great way for students to learn alongside their peers. They will be able to spend time together learning maths concepts, helping one another with questions or ideas they do not fully understand. The smaller classes also help foster closer friendships, which can lead to the formation of study groups during school days or on weekends, and even encourage the odd outing or two. These meet-ups allow them to support each other in any way they can.
Problem-Solving Skills
Maths tuition also helps foster a desire to learn more and develop crucial critical thinking skills that can help weaker students grasp the underlying logic of various maths concepts, including complex ones like algebra. Not only does this allow students to master previously complex concepts, but it also fosters creative thinking that will help them well into the future. From mental maths techniques to summarising information, these skills will have plenty of practical value in their adult lives.
Helpful Tips for Weak Students to Improve
It is always vital to support weak students so that they can improve over time. Here are some handy tips to do that.
Be Supportive
Encouragement is always a positive step to instilling a love for maths. Instead of highlighting mistakes and emphasising failures, use them as opportunities for learning and further growth. Students should not think they are bad at maths, and regular encouragement and reinforcement can go a long way toward helping them improve with concerted practice and effort. Be sure to celebrate small wins, too!
Stay Consistent
Maintain the consistency of their lessons by making maths relevant inside and outside the classroom. Whether it is homework or fun learning activities, any bit of practice can help them progress. Personalised tutoring also helps keep them focused while giving them space to ask questions and identify areas for improvement, fostering a growth mindset and helping them thrive with regular practice.
Take It Slow
Rushing lessons will only exacerbate a student’s maths anxiety and reluctance to learn. Take things at a comfortable pace for students so that they have time to think things through, ask for help, and get sufficient practice to master a particular concept. A methodical approach helps reinforce what students learn much better than racing from one topic to another, contributing to their growing confidence and ability to solve problems, even with a timer counting down.
Infuse Fun
Mathematics should also be enjoyable, and adding a fun factor can make it easier for students to learn. Technology can be a great way to facilitate learning through play via gamification, where maths lessons can be taught through engaging activities that promote students’ critical thinking skills at every step. Even simple maths games, such as number cards and puzzles, can be instrumental in helping students master the subject.
Want to know how we can empower weak students to excel in Mathematics? Contact Matrix Math today to find out more about our personalised teaching approaches!