Why is Maths unpopular? by Teacher Academy

Fernanda Santos

2017-09-18 12:19:30 UTC

Cornelia Melcu

corneliamelcu — 2017-09-18 12:40:15 UTC

I teach primary school students and...most of them like Maths more than other subjects because they find it more logical and challenging :) Some of the girls found it difficult at the beginning - they knew that”girls are not good at Maths and Science” so they were influenced by this prejudice but...now they prefer Maths instead of other subjects.

Alberto Bosani

2017-09-18 13:50:54 UTC

Among my students motivaltional differences are significantly correlated to their course of studies and genre. Girls tend to be more resistant to involvement, as they are less inclined to taking up challanges. From my point of view, lots of students have deeply-rooted preconceptions which settled down in their minds in the early school years. They believe Maths consists of a series of boring computational procedures which hardly have anything to do with creativeness or the real world. That is why the lack any motivation to improve, moreover as Maths is considered to be very demanding: you cannot "sense" the correct answer, but you need a good deal of abstract thinking. As a teacher, my first task is to demolish students' prejudices against Maths as they enter my classes.

Álvaro Molina

2017-09-18 14:03:41 UTC

I teach secondary school. When I have students who will study arts, I have a great opportunity. These students normally hate maths, so I have a great opportunity to them teaching how important is math to understand art concepts: real numbers in proportions, geometry, functions insurance computing arts,... At the beginning, they don't understand why I'm happy to explain this kind of things, but at the end of the school year they are happy to understand arts using mathematical concepts.

Vrinceanu Luminita

luminita_dumitru_85 — 2017-09-18 14:39:46 UTC

Anna Mirella Guerrieri

guerrierimirella5 — 2017-09-18 14:48:29 UTC

I think that math is so unpopular among kids for several reasons:
1. Math requires logical order and thinking, application and study.
Today the boys are very superficial, they study little and they get tired easily ....
2. Often the parents have had a bad relationship with math and they convey these ideas to their children
3. Primary school teachers do not always follow all children, often leaving gaps in them

4. There are many preconceptions, for example this I do not know how to do, but the guys did not even read the delivery!!!

Fatima Kličić

fatimaklicic — 2017-09-18 14:54:28 UTC

For some, mathematics is baffling because of the relationship between parents, brothers and sisters toward that subject, not coming to anyone in the neighborhood, and immediately the child thinks it's a tough one. In addition, it is very important from the very beginning of a "striking base" to show that it is easy to overcome, interestingly, if not more interesting than other subjects, to teach a child to think, not to learn ...

Mathematics can be one of the nicest subjects in school, and it may take very little time if she is smart to approach, of course, when it comes to average children

Antonella Franzoso

2017-09-18 15:17:05 UTC

I'm teaching in a primary school. I started math in the first class using most time games, toys, picture, pc games... I Know children like all this stuff. Sometimes they asked me: "when we start to learn maths?" (I think because for some parents if you don't use book and copybook itsn't real school...).
They enjoy the learning and I saw their shining eyes when they solve problems and understand. Now they are in the fifth class and still now, when I say "tomorrow is math" the answer is "Yeah! can we make something difficult? This is for me special, they like challenges and they enjoy and like to learn.

Maria Daniela Roberto

2017-09-18 15:28:45 UTC

Math is unpopular because it seems difficult to understand since it's often abstract and boring

Chiara Ghilardi

2017-09-18 15:28:51 UTC

I think that students often hate Math because it is often thaught giving too much emphasis to the calculus and not to the procedures or to problems related to real world situations. Moreover when they arrive at the secondary school they are already convinced by their past experiences that they are not able to do Math and they don't want to give themselves another chance with it. Their parents often reinforce them in this behaviour, since they share the same feeling from their experience at school.

Hatice Gözde Uysal

hgozdeuysal — 2017-09-18 15:46:47 UTC

Math is unpopular because they think that it is very boring and consists formulas hard to understand. When they understand that maths is the reality of life they try ro learn the mystery of this subject. That's why we need to purify from complicated formulas and try toshow the other face/functions of maths.

Vrinceanu

luminita_dumitru_85 — 2017-09-18 15:52:09 UTC

Mathematics is not popular among students because (they say):
1 everybody says math is tough
2 math is not fun enough
3 mathematics has no applications in real life.

Math isn't for all people.

2017-09-18 15:58:48 UTC

Vanda Santos

vsantos7 — 2017-09-18 15:58:54 UTC

Students dislike Math because they think, in the first instance, that it has no real-life applications.

Olga Werner

2017-09-18 16:00:11 UTC

Students do not like mathematics because they consider it difficult, useless and unrelated in any way to everyday life. For them these are the rules that you must know and apply to solving mathematical problems.

Oriana Micheletti

2017-09-18 16:05:26 UTC

Students don’t appreciate math because they don’t find a useful link with the real life. They often ask for why they have to learn algebra or formulas instead to use a calculator.

Raúl Alejandro

raulalejandrobejar — 2017-09-18 16:09:36 UTC

I think the main problem is that our students do not see the applications of mathematics in their lives and they find it serious and boring

I think that is absolutely need to change school curriculum in that way to enable more time for discussion and creativity. Teacher have obligation to reach outcomes so we are always in a hurry. When I have had enough time to give to each a problem for their own possibilities, kids show much more will to solve the task. But, often in a class with 30 kids it is impossible. Kids feel unmotivated when they have a problem which is to hard or to easy for them. Also, they don't like problems like: solve equations or calculate expression. They like real life stories.

mirarasic62 — 2017-09-18 16:39:08 UTC

Jelena Kenić

2017-09-18 16:39:21 UTC

First of all, I think we could blame the misconceptions that accompany mathematics since the time immemorial - "Math is so difficult and not for everyone". Students who faced the problems with basic steps in maths hardly can follow and continue upgrading their knowledge in the higher grades. They usually carry a lack of the self-confidence and see themselves as persons who are not good in maths and never will be. There is a famous saying: "Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it'll live its whole life believing that it's stupid". Our job is to find the best way to aproach every student. Utopistic? Maybe, but we should try.

Janos, Hungary

janos_ujlaki — 2017-09-18 16:52:07 UTC

In my country Maths is an obligatory subject for all students. They have to learn it whether they want it or not.
An other problem is that the changes in our education system lowered the nr. of Maths lessons in the core curriculum. In an average high school it is only 3 lessons/week, which is not enough to teach and learn everything that is needed for the obligatory state exam. There is no time to develop certain skills or to use enjoyable sources and materials, because if we want them to pass the exam, we have to focus on that more.
That's why most of the students don't like Maths as they do not have time to practice it (they have 35-36 lessons in a week), so they lose interest in it.

janos_ujlaki — 2017-09-18 16:52:08 UTC

In my country MAt

Ramona

ramona_we — 2017-09-18 16:57:32 UTC

I think that many students don´t like math, because they don´t understand why they need it in their future life. The tasks in books are often very theoretic. Sometimes they have also made some bad experiences in their math lessons (they couldn´t do an exercise or they didn´t understand a task) and those impressions stick.

Christiana Matentsidou

christiana_ma — 2017-09-18 17:17:02 UTC

Math is a course that either will have fanatic students, eager to learn more, or the complete opposite. Most of the times the second thing happens. There is always the question "why do we need it?"
The reasons, i think, they are plenty.
School: In the early years there have to be taken small steps in making students fall in love with math, especially through everyday life, nature, music, movies (special effects) etc..
This way it would be easier for students to realise that math appear everywhere.
Curriculum: Too much to teach in the time given. Time has to fit in students' needs in order to help them improve.
Family: Parents' personal experience affects their kids. This has a great deal of influence in their future course. Lack of belief and trust by the closest environment.
Environment: Relatives, friends and their point of view on math. Many times present it as the most difficult and unappealing subject.
Lack of Job Orientation at school (Greece): because of which students think that one should study math in order to become a mathematician or a civil engineer.

Argiro Spyrogianni, Greece

Argiro — 2017-09-18 18:12:59 UTC

In my experience, most students dislike Maths or feel incable of understanding the subject, due to the fact that they think it has to do nothing with their everyday life (especially when textbooks enhance this belief because of their content...). Only when we try to reach to Maths through games or trying to solve riddles and problems in class the kids feel comfortable with Maths. So, if only we could offer them, game-based learning environments (for younger students) and both initiative and challenge (for older students), then every prejudice and frustration concerning Maths could be avoided.

Laura Trif,Romania Math is a delicate subject for students. The lessons are not easy to understand, the things are not easy to do. Many childrens think that is very hard to work with numbers. But, from the moment that someone makes progres, step by step, everyone could fall in love with math. The hardest thing could be transformed in something fun, in something logical. The teacher is responsable for making math a pleasent course.

2017-09-18 18:33:11 UTC

Gli studenti purtroppo odiano la matematica perchè sin dalla scuola primaria viene loro presentata in maniera poco divertente, piena di nozioni da imparare e sempre piu distante dalla realtà. Cambiare la metodologia di insegnamento e presentare la materia sotto forma di gioco è la prima cosa da fare

amaliademaio66 — 2017-09-18 18:36:13 UTC

Silvia Scandura, Italy - Loving to hate Math

2017-09-18 19:01:50 UTC

Mathematics is undoubtly everyone's least favourite subject. In Italy (but the Hollywood video tells me that we're not alone) people are almost proud of being terrible at math!
This is a cultural problem.
Math - at least at school level - is not intrinsically difficult, but a lot of its understanding relies on prior knowledge, which can be very hard to catch up to.
To overcome math anxiety - which is a real thing - students should learn that making mistakes is not a deadly sin. Embracing struggle and failure can lead to success!
Our primary job as math teachers is to help kids in this journey from hate and fear of math, to love and commitment.

Monica ConteI teach Maths in secondary school and I like it. But it’s difficult starting a new year, in new classes, thinking that they know the curriculum of previous years and finding that the reality is really different. Even more difficult when you was the teacher of the previous year.Some students were very good at Maths when things were easier, and they thought to be some little genius, because they always had the right answer. When they struggle, they immediately think they are stupid and that they are a bluff. They don’t think that they can learn, because or they are really intelligent and can understand everything immediately, or they are stupid. They can’t believe that everyone sometimes struggle and that you can win your battle with study and effort.Some students had difficulties from the beginning, and, as they think Maths is only for genius, they try every way to dribble this subject and hope to arrive safe at the end of the schoolyear.Sometimes, we teachers don’t believe possible that our students are not able understand something we spent so much time teaching and revising. The reasoning is so easy for us, and it was easy the first time we met it, that we can’t stand in their shoes.

2017-09-18 19:44:37 UTC

Teodor Mihaela

gelu_mihaela — 2017-09-18 19:50:39 UTC

Most students end up hating math mainly because they can't understand it.
First of all, due to lack of time, teachers end up explaining math in an abstract
way, with no connection to the real world. This is why kids don't manage to
find math appealing, because they don't see it as being useful.
Secondly, there are a lot of teachers who don't manage to keep up with the modern
methods, so they make it harder for students, because, in my opinion, it is much
harder to understand math only with the pen and paper.

Veronica, Romania

veronica_gaina1 — 2017-09-18 19:58:15 UTC

Mathematics has always been and is still considered the hardest and most ugly matter, because many students do not understand it, the lessons are monotonous and unattractive, without showing where and in what situations we meet in everyday life with those notions. for most students it is very difficult to use the learned mathematical notions. On the other hand, the school curriculum is not very attractive, many lessons to be taught in very short time, often being very little time to do the necessary feed-back.

Adriana,

2017-09-18 20:09:01 UTC

Some students do not have enough time to study mathematics, with other concerns. It accumulates gaps that are hard to recover. are not very consistent

Clara Matheu

2017-09-18 20:11:22 UTC

I think that some students doesn´t feel good enough for maths. You are born or not with this capacity. We have to change this conception with the Growth mindset theory.
Another thing is that not always we show them the connection with real life. I´m trying to do so but I still have questions like, how can I connect algebra calculus, like the square of the binomial to real life...is not easy but I keep thinking and trying! I do lots of games so that my students like maths classes but it´s not enough (although they love these classes) and not always can learn by playing games.
Veronica says that the curriculum sometimes runs behind us but I think that

it's worth leaving some lessons out so you can  work some more time with others.

Paola

scuolainmouse — 2017-09-18 21:03:49 UTC

I've been teaching Maths for three years in a primary school and I actually think that it's a particular subject! Most of my students like Maths, but I think someone of them finds it "impossible to understand" (Sometimes I can read it on their eyes!). Many children find really hard working with numbers, but when they improve themselves they begin to love Maths.
During these years I've spent many time in discussion activities, real life stories, pratical experiences...
Instead of that I've noticed that some of my pupils don't feel really comfortable with problems and they actually see themselves as people who are not good to solve them and never could. My colleagues and me have talked at lenght about it. We decided to break problems up and rewrite them. This is the reason why I liked very much the suggestions provided by Dan Meyer

Nilay

nkiymaci — 2017-09-18 21:21:19 UTC

Afraid of maths.Math needs to be used everyday life.Activitiesmust be enhanced to be able to learn mathematicseasly.we must love math.I need to practice a lot in mathematics.Students must encounter and use mathematics.We must understand and explan the mathematics well.I have to tell math art and music

CHRISTOS, GREECE

christos_chachoudis — 2017-09-18 22:20:14 UTC

THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE AFRAID OF MATHS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT GOOD AT MATHS. THIS IS A ILLUSSION THEY HAVE BECAUSE WE THE TEACHER HAAVE NOT MAKE MATHS APROACHABLE TO OUR STUDENTS. WE ALL SHOULD SHOW OUR STUDENTS THE WAYS TO USE IN EVERYDAY LIFE THE SUBJECTS WE TEACH...

Maria

ladymary — 2017-09-18 22:25:59 UTC

I work in a really hard district in Naples. My student are not interested in study and very often they hate math.
I could explain this in 2 reason:
1) very often they meet math in a really boring way. in primary school they didn't do any lab but they must learn rules without any reasoning
2) nobody help them to discover math in their life. they thik that only person with particular capability could understand math

Christina, Thessaloniki

2017-09-19 07:56:08 UTC

Many different reasons, some of them are
1) Abstract mathematics is introduced earlier than students develop the ability to handle it.
2) Fear for problem solving and word problems. Problems do not respond well to real life situations. Engage the students with problem posing not only problem solving.
3) Difficulty moving for one represantation to another for example from the graph to the equation. Students are not taught to see connections like that.

We should find ways to give meaning and sense to the school mathematics and engage students to become more envolved in problem solving.

My students' are very motivate for Maths. They believe with work they can improve. Some students say that Math is very complicate because they need to learn a lot of formulas.

paulagomes30 — 2017-09-19 12:03:17 UTC

Paula Gomes

Roberta In the past https://padlet.com/condomittir/3zjw5tqr3msj

condomittir — 2017-09-19 12:31:29 UTC

Vesna, Macedonia

vesnakushevska — 2017-09-19 12:58:52 UTC

Every subject that students do not teach and do not practice regularly is difficult.
In mathematics many wholes are complementary to the previous ones. The better they handle any of them, the less difficult they will have in the following.
With regular learning and practice students will achieve quality long-term knowledge and skills.

Iolanda, Italiy

2017-09-19 13:53:14 UTC

I think there are more then one answer for this question:
1) Many people hate math becouse in their family other people saying that. Many times I heard "My child is not good in math, but I was like him too".
2) In nursery school and in Kindergarten children playing very much with colours and sheet of paper but not so much with shape objects and movement. I mean that much exercise, much open eyes and see the math all over the world can help children to grow up with a new idea of the subject.
3)Youg people are not used to workout in homework, they often think that see a Math formular is enough to resolve all Math problems.

Tanya, Bulgaria

tanya_evt — 2017-09-19 13:54:59 UTC

Valbona mata

valbona_mata2 — 2017-09-19 14:19:37 UTC

It is true that students hate mathematics
the math tired students
and is not practical.
children want more to play with him
to use it in practice to learn from it

Anna, Italy My students use math in their everyday life more then they belive. Nevertheless when they have to use math at school they are not able to do it. They can’t treat about abstract objects. They can resolve problems about money but can’t resolve the same questions about angles, segments.

anna_porro967 — 2017-09-19 15:09:49 UTC

Júlia Ferreira

2017-09-19 15:11:41 UTC

It seems that the idea that mathematics is difficult is a preconceived idea that goes from generation to generation; when difficulties begin to emerge, even in the first years of schooling, this pre-conceived idea serves as an excuse that most people accept, saying that there’s no problem. The worst of it is that, year after year, the difficulties accumulate like a snowball that doesn’t stop growing. And then, yes, it is very difficult to acquire new knowledge without the basic and structuring knowledge.

It’s important to demystify this idea and work through these difficulties right from the beginning.
Fortunately, we
still have students who love math, who like to work and learn more and more;
students who do not give up when there are difficulties, facing them as new challenges.

Giuseppe Vullo

profgiuseppevullo — 2017-09-19 16:07:18 UTC

I think that maths like a few, because so many teachers do not know how to teach!

Cristina Paternolli, Genoa

2017-09-19 16:09:39 UTC

I think mathematics is too much for th most of students.
We can try food recipes, coloured pens, videos, games, maps...we are becoming anchor men and women, wonderful comedians, Harry Potter, but we will are not teachers again......

Maria Kleidara

2017-09-19 16:16:43 UTC

Maths are everywhere. I think all we have to do is to encourage our students to discover them in their daily life so maths can have a purpose for students to explore them and to be attractive about them

tina

tinamellos — 2017-09-19 16:32:58 UTC

My students use maths in everyday life with ease but when it comes to put them into practice inside the classroom, it's as if they just click and simply find it impossible; interesting isn't it? When I ask them, they cannot answer. So, what we have to do is to find creative ways to connect maths with rea-life; something that is quite difficult if you take into consideration that the majority of our maths books are made to confuse them and cause chaos!

Elena Martin

2017-09-19 17:27:04 UTC

In order to improve the students skills we should first reconsider their needs and to change the way we teach them. Right now, we only do math in order to prepare them for their future exams.

Kerli, Estonia

kerli_viidebaum — 2017-09-19 18:01:42 UTC

I don´t think that math is unpopular. Most of students believe that it´s important to them. Math is hard because it needs consistent work. Those who don´t like maths, usually feel that they are not good at it. Its very important to find suitable tasks for every student. Challenging but not intimidating tasks.And teachers should use variety of methods, not everything suits to everybody.

Gabriella

fisicaamica — 2017-09-19 18:32:46 UTC

Mathematics opens the mind and contributes to developing the ability to communicate and discuss, correctly argue, to understand the views and arguments of others.

Unfortunately, in elementary and lower secondary schools, too often, maths are taught in the form of fine calculations for themselves. And so it is immediately considered a difficult and unimaginative matter, as well as a source of anxiety and frustration for many children and teenagers.

Now our life is immersed in math. We use the numbers to count, to sketch the time, and we tend to do simple operations in mind without realizing it, as when we control the rest after making a purchase. Since we open our eyes in the morning until we re-use the evening the scenarios where skills are required on numbers, geometric shapes, logical deductions, relationships, forecasts and more are many. What would we do if no one had taught us the fundamentals of such an indispensable discipline?

Mathematics is also the science that most of all allows every individual, from the very earliest age, to refine the limbs of problem solving. An important requirement is that they are ten years old and there is a need to resolve a dispute in the parquet, even if at a more advanced age we need to apply these skills to the workplace.

Paola - Italy

2017-09-19 20:01:02 UTC

Maths unpopular? Too many people say that! Some pupils find Math very easy, some others don’t understand it, in particular problems. In my experience, in Primary School, it is very important to do a lot of practical experiences, games, labs…in order to let pupils understand the importance of Math in real life. The teachers are entitled to make people change mind about Maths.

Koraljka

2017-09-19 20:12:44 UTC

I think I'm lucky to teach basics like addition, multiplication... I think my responsibility is to teach it with a lot of examples and using concretes (like blocks, paper money etc.) But I agree with Dan Mayers that patience is something very important that our students should develop. Also I am enthusiastic about developing logical thinking and problem solving.

Teodora

2017-09-19 20:34:48 UTC

I am convinced that teaching and learning strategies play an essential role in motivating students to learn mathematics. In addition, the affective climate that you create and maintain as a teacher, the positive relationships that you build with your students are important pillars that lead to increased motivation and student involvement.

Cucuianu Marița

cucuianumarcela — 2017-09-19 20:35:06 UTC

I am a math teacher at gymnasium and I have noticed that my students like especially when mathematics is taught differently using different Geogebra, Kahoot! Programs, educational software, but also when geometry is origami, when we go to the bank, shop, workshops creating different museums, reading billboards, and creating tangram tiles, or tasting the cake we made after shopping together.

Damla Güder, Turkey

dml — 2017-09-19 21:03:24 UTC

There are lots of students find math difficult. When the students don't do math, there is a big gap between math and they. And it is difficult to change this. Attitudes are very important and ı believe it can be changed.

Today we make a small survey at school with my 7th gade students it is about how do my students feel about math? And how must our lessons be in this year? Majority of population thinks that math is aqual to difficult, and they say that they want funny math lessons.

Sarah Mallia, Malta

2017-09-19 21:05:16 UTC

I feel that my students either love or hate Maths however I also witnessed students who tried and improved with the teacher's encouragement and motivation.

Lejla Hujdur, BiH

lejla_hujdur — 2017-09-19 22:03:40 UTC

I think that "problems" students have with math origin from:
1) They see no purpose in learning things (calculus) that calculator can solve them in a second.
2) If they want to be good in math they have to learn it continously, not just few hourse before test.
Fortunatully, my students do believe they can improve their math competencies and I do my best to help them in that.

Leonor Gonçalves, Portugal

leonorpg — 2017-09-19 22:08:00 UTC

Most of my students are really demotivated. Some of those don't believe in their ability to improve. Some voice their dislike of Maths, arguing that it is too difficult and that they never had good marks on Maths. Parents apologize for their children saying that the same happened to them when they studied. For children who don't like school, that's a very good excuse to cross their arms and do nothing about it. I think that many are afraid of having a poor performance and, to avoid this, they put the Maths aside. Of course the way we teach may be part of the problem and I hope I'm ready to do something about it.

Salvo, Italia

Profmessina85 — 2017-09-19 22:44:49 UTC

Many students consider Math apply several formulas and calculus without logic connection. Their final target is only right result!
In fact, they often learn by heart every formula but they don't understand when or how use it!
Every Teachers have to show pupils that every step and formula have their justification and only if they will learn that, they could understand the wonderful and logic world of numbers!

Maria Beer, Romania

scgimnmihaieminescu — 2017-09-20 05:19:40 UTC

I think an important role in understanding mathematics by students is to educate the patient to listen and understand a mathematical reasoning, but students have no patience ...

Natalia, Ukraine

2017-09-20 05:26:55 UTC

My students use Maths in everyday life bur they have some problems on the lessons. So, I use different educational programmes like Geogebra and Kahoot. They help them to imagine function graphs and other things.

Sabrina, Italy

profsnappi — 2017-09-20 08:22:09 UTC

Pupils have difficulty in math because they do not understand the text of a problem and have difficulty in applying rules and formulas.

It is very important to let him know that math is everywhere around us and through reading newspapers, newspapers, journals and passionate about the discipline

Cinzia, Italy

ciercol — 2017-09-20 08:40:51 UTC

I’ve always loved Maths, it’s always been my favourite subject, I love teaching it and my students feel it. I teach in Primary school and I try to find ways to engage children in their learning processes. It’s not easy but I feel it’s the only way. Teachers have to find a way to not being prisoners of the text book, they need to find new roads, that’s why I think that this course will be fundamental for us all to change the way our students consider Maths.

Giulia Italy

giulia_carlone73 — 2017-09-20 09:24:29 UTC

Many students didn't understand the importance to search the right way to solve a problem. They only try to remember formula and didn't understand that the resarch is more important than the result. I Try to improve their methods tell them that math is not simple but it could be useful and enjoy.

Isabel, Portugal

2017-09-20 10:04:14 UTC

Starting by the last question, I believe that many students are frustrated by Maths due to their low level of achievement in the subject. Mostly, they justify their difficulties by the sad story of their past as Math students (“I had a bad grade in the year … Since then I never understood Math!”).
In my classes I try to ensure that the class has moments of intensive dialogue, not only between myself and the class, but also, giving space and encouraging different points of views from students. Often I ask them to justify their positions/answers, and encourage others to critically give their opinion about their colleagues positions. In those moments I try to be watchful of those who are less engaged in the discussion or more shy, asking them directly for their contribution to the discussion.
In the time of autonomous work in class I always point the positive work and try to be constructive in my critics, in a one-o-one talk.
This strategy works in terms of making (most of) my students more confident about their ability “to face” Maths. And they point that out to me in a such a joyful way (“I did it!”), that I observe a growing confidence along the school year, and, yes, they (start) to believe in their ability to improve

But sometimes, I just can’t reach some other students. I believ they really have to study and practice some topics, and that can be tedious for some students, who lack the discipline and initiative to do that work by themselves out of class (and class time isn't enough to do that kind of work there, whith my guidance).

Mario, Italy

profdifonza — 2017-09-20 10:04:33 UTC

I think that the students, in generally, have difficulties in understanding a text and lack of links between disciplines.

It is very important to link the mathematics study to physics, chemistry, art, etc. in real contexts and using technologies. In this way, pupils are more fond of studying mathematics.

Chiara, Italy

chiara_inve — 2017-09-20 13:00:18 UTC

I agree with other teachers who say that our students' level of engagement in Math it's usually quite low. I think they are discouraged by the difficulties they encounter; they are not interested in investing their time to improve as they do on other fields like music, skateboard acrobatics or pc gaming. The same boy or girl who can easily spend a whole afternoon repeating an acrobatic move with his/her skate, or dueling with a three headed dragon in Final Fantasy, is also ready (and sometime eager) to say "It's too difficult, I cannot do it" at the first difficulty of a Math exercise.
That's because music, skateboard, pc gaming matters to them, while Math simply doesn't.
I've heard hundreds version of the old song "I was always bad at math, since in primary school" (I wonder if in Primary school they blame it on Kindergarten).
We have to make Math interesting for them, let them see that it can be fun to play with and worth their time to spend in exercises, trying, failing and trying again.
Even more important for them is to learn that it's ok to fail. They are always worried about grade, so they simply don't try to give an answer if they're not 100% certain that's right. This because we condition them to believe that every problem the meet has to have a unique right answer. That's our falt.

Nikos, Greece

makrodimos — 2017-09-20 13:04:26 UTC

I have tried many methods to make maths look attractive! One of my most successful way is when I introduce maths like a new language in an unknown world with a lot of magic tricks. Of course, when students work in groups their fear is shared and they feel safer to deal with the math monsters

Edgars, Latvia

2017-09-20 13:29:40 UTC

While teaching mathematics, we do something wrong right from the start. Therefore, some children feel that mathematics is incomprehensible and they really do not understand it. For example, maybe we do not have to teach 2 + 2 = 4 but 4 = 2 + 2? Maybe mathematics should start with move rather than sitting in a classroom?

Teresa, Italy

crancyfera — 2017-09-20 14:27:42 UTC

I noticed while I went to high school that many of my companions hated math. I think there are attitudes towards the subjects, but I think math and sciences are subjects where you have no answers to learning but to find. Sometimes the student would like it all and immediately and in mathematics you can not always get everything in your mind. Knowledge comes by step and only at the end of the path you have clear the usefulness of the tools studied. Perhaps math requires patience in learning and trusting to be building something great from small and strange bricks. I believe in improving mathematics, even though this requires collective support from school and family to support the boy. Unfortunately, the frustration for mathematics comes very early since the first level of school and then strengthened more and more, and especially for the sequential nature of mathematics knowledge.

Oriana P., Italy

oriana_pipino — 2017-09-20 16:39:01 UTC

Math is unpopular because students don't want to study. It's very tiring! Some students said that mathematics is one of the useless subjects because you don't need the formula of math when you work in the future...

Kiriazis, Greece

KirXatz — 2017-09-20 17:14:16 UTC

Math is unpopular cause it is us who made kids hate them. Most of my colleques feel insecure and anxiety when it comes to math in upper grades of elementary school. We should perceive maths as a unity and don't split up into chapters! Try it and make people love maths...

Monica, Italy

zanonmonica20 — 2017-09-20 17:38:44 UTC

In my personal experience is not so true, perhaps it will be thanks to the methodological approach I use. I've always used active didactics and this helps students to be motivated to learn. During lessons I use group work, maths lab, math games, problem solving and I have to say that if students are protagonists of their learning they are stimulated to learn and do not get bored.

The major difficulties that create anxiety and frustration are often related to problem solving. In this regard, a reflection that I often make is that such difficulties are mainly related to language rather than mathematics. This is evident when they have to argue a thought or a concept or understand the problem’s text.
I think if you establish a good educational relationship with your students, if you believe in their learning skills, if we value them every time they make a small step, if we support them in the difficulties and help them understand their mistakes, they will believe they can do it and their frustrations will disappear.

Oleg, Czech

2017-09-20 18:18:44 UTC

I don't understand one thing. Looking around 90% teachers of math are women. Why 90% of students on technical schools (where math is most important) are boys?

Vladimíra, Czech

vlerhartova — 2017-09-20 18:27:29 UTC

Why is Maths unpopular? It is plenty of hard work, excited, amazing, beautiful but hard work. And it is so easy to find some excuse - I am not talented, I won´t need it, my teacher is bad, ...

Lena, Germany

2017-09-20 18:31:05 UTC

Students often ask questions like "Why do I need math?" or "Where do I need this particular formula in my own life?" I often cannot answer these questions in an appropriate way because I don't know what to tell them, especially when it comes to more complex and abstract things. And even referring to word problems such as filling up a water tank doesn't help because they don't see an impact on their own lives.

Luiza, Portugal

f738 — 2017-09-20 19:36:47 UTC

Mathematics is a discipline with very proper characteristics. To learn/study mathematics is necessary a special attitude: it is crucial to persist and not give up!
We have probably created mental habitations that we have hardly been able to liberate and, therefore, there are many dificulties that young people find in study of maths. Moreover, it often seems to me that the relationship between thematic content and the reality of children is not duly explicit.

Maths is unpopular because it is considered difficult and not easy to understand. There are also some stereotypes in my country that women are less enthusiastic about learning/teaching maths so they prefer drawing or debating instead- Maths is not seen as a part of our everyday life.

2017-09-20 19:45:32 UTC

Laura, Romania

2017-09-20 19:59:10 UTC

I think students don't solve enough exercises because they don't have a strong enough motivation. Mathematics is a more difficult subject and when they don't have enough examples to show them that what they learn is applied in life, it is hard to mobilize. The reduced time allocated to the study, in favor of the entertainment, is another obstacle to some of them.

Monica, Italy

zanonmonica20 — 2017-09-20 20:23:47 UTC

Another thing I think is that I often hear moms and dads who, seeing the difficulties of their children, tell me thay had the same difficulties: " When I was young, I never understood anything about maths " ... almost as if being good or not good at math was an inherited trait... so i think that parents have a great responsibility on to like or dislike maths to their children, as well as teachers ... through the experiences that we plan for them.

I think if you establish a good educational relationship with your students, if you believe in their learning skills, if we value them every time they make a small step, if we support them in the difficulties and help them understand their mistakes, they will believe they can do it and their frustrations will disappear.

Vasiliki, Greece

fruitcorner — 2017-09-20 20:41:10 UTC

The last two years I've been fortunate enough to work with students that mostly love Maths. I don't know if it is because I modified my teaching methodology and approach to Maths (non-text orientated teaching - but fullfilling the objectives of the national curricula) or it is just that these kids happened to like Maths or they had had previously enlightened teachers that made them love Maths. Of course, there are some students still struggling but it's only a minority. Sure, I had students who absolutely hated Maths in the past and this might be because of the level of mathematical knowledge offered to them (too high or abstract for their age), unsuitable textbooks, inefficient teaching methodology. My current students are very resourceful, meaning they work in different ways when approaching a problem and I devote enough time to have them heard and see that different ways can be right!!!

Mary, Italy

2017-09-20 21:36:16 UTC

The students are more motivated to math especially in the early years of primary school because they use many concrete materials, laboratories and active methodologies. Going forward with the years, the concepts become increasingly abstract and unrelated to the world around us so pupils lose motivation.

Laura, Italy

2017-09-20 21:36:40 UTC

Learning comes when the students want to learn. The motivation can come from different sources and for different reasons. At times, the student is not motivated. It's no big deal. There is no reason to expect somebody to be interested in something just because somebody at school decided they should be. Not knowing what

π is never killed anybody. And, the best way to create and re-enforce issues with mathematics is to push the student when the student is not interested.

Chiara, Italy Modena

2017-09-21 10:16:52 UTC

I think that it is mainly due to the way Math is usually taught: too much importance to the calculus and algebraic procedures. When problems are proposed it is given too much importance to THE solution as it would be unique instead of to the process. I think the idea of Dan Meyer of destroying the text of the problem before proposing to the students is really interesting. In this way problems become as real world problems are which are not already defined in a way that solution and strategy are indicated in the text. This approach foster their creativity, imagination and lateral thinking. I usually use problems in my classes, work in group and games (interactive games, app) and this helps a lot. Unfortunately, sometimes students at 14 years old have decided that they are not able in Math because od their previous school experiences and also because of their parents which often reinforce the idea that Math is difficult, boring and often say that they themselves when they were young weren't good at maths.

Snezana, Macedonia

2017-09-21 16:01:13 UTC

Students ( and almost all people) don't like math becouse they can't see the implementation of math in the real life, and often they judge before experienced it.

Patrizia, Italy

2017-09-21 18:25:59 UTC

I think the problem is we generally don't teach “math” to pre-schoolers. Basic math and number concepts utilized in a preschool or kindergarten classroom set the foundation for learning more advanced math concepts. Early exposure to math and number activities will promote our children’s comfort with these skills. Additional opportunities to practice these skills will increase our children’s confidence when working with math and number concepts and will lead them to believe he is “good at math.” If our children do not become comfortable with math and number concepts at a young age, they will lack confidence in their abilities and may become hesitant as more advanced math concepts are introduced. When this happens, they may default to believing they are “bad at math” and they risk beginning a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.

Larisa, Chișinau

2017-09-21 19:39:55 UTC

I think math has become unpopular because:
mathematical applications in various domains are no longer visible, they are deeply hidden and it is becoming more and more difficult to answer the student's question of "why to learn mathematics";
examples of successful people promoted by media do not refer to people who have demonstrated performance in this area;
learning math requires the involvement of many complex mental processes, assiduity, creativity, etc.

Ileana, Romania

2017-09-21 20:52:09 UTC

I work with high school students and many of them say math is a hard discipline that will not be used in the future. They have no motivation to study this discipline, so their level of involvement is low. Because they are aware of the shortcomings that have accumulated over time, the level of confidence in improving mathematical abilities is very low.

Chiara, Italy

2017-09-21 21:09:26 UTC

I think that the problem is our way of teaching... often we used the frontal lesson where the teacher stands in front of his class and students are merely asked to take notes and try to understand the subjects we are explaining. I think that for our students being protagonists of the lesson could be the solution to their fear of Math. Another problem is that very often Math is very far from the real life and we are more interested in calculus and we often forget, in our teaching, to start from real problems. I think that the beauty of math is that is a strong tool with which we can solve a lot of real problems by their modelization. Math is wherever around us.

Anaely, Mexico.

anaelypb — 2017-09-22 00:18:30 UTC

I have only experience in private lessons, therefore even when they lack some abilities they are motivated to improve and learn more, also some of them really don't like math but they think at least it is important part of their education (maybe only for the grades). I also try to keep an open mind to their ways of solving problems, because when they explain me their reasoning I found it interesting and useful. I think that one of the reasons that many students aren't confident or frustrated by Math are the teaching system itself or in some cases the teachers, that really don't understand what they are explaining, the applications or math reasoning.

LauraF, Italy

2017-09-22 07:41:58 UTC

Society is driving us “impatient”: we are educated with “ready to go” apps, tools and devices so that one no longer creates problems. You’ve given all the solutions already. One has not the right to discover, to make problems, to imagine solutions. One is no longer educated to do an effort to get what he wants. And every time he runs into a difficulty, he is given a short way to pass it instead of face it.

Gabriella

fisicaamica — 2017-09-22 12:55:07 UTC

Hello everyone. I'm an Italian teacher. This is a difficult question and there is only one answer. I think it's also my fault; lessons are a hint of unsanitary formulas, formulas to apply mechanically, with too much emphasis on "how" and very little on "why." Better textbooks for a mathematician, who needs rigor, than a student who needs to understand and appreciate. Furthermore, pupils are grouped in class by age and not all pupils are equal and with the same logical / mathematical development; conceptualization and abstraction at the wrong time, when the pupil's mind is not ready yet, programs are too systematic when the pupils, especially the youngest ones, are not systematic in learning
And I would like to try to answer instead "how do you like math?" For example, deriving that theory is applied to practice or touching and building geometric shapes. Find out how to solve formulas and procedures by letting the students work together.
And a final reflection ... .. these suggestions lead to a burning truth: the need to change the student's way of assessment (at least in the Italian reality)

Donata,Italy

dmschiliro — 2017-09-22 14:01:19 UTC

I think that everything that is unclear is clear or that it is far from everyday experience becomes unpopular. Mathematics if taught only as a succession of calculations and exercises does not affect students. More involvement by students is provided if math becomes useful for solving everyday problems. In this regard, recent textbooks in Italy present various "reality tasks", that is, the analysis of real and everyday problem situations that give students awareness of the importance of the math study to be applied in solving problems that occur daily .
Another issue derives from the clear understanding of discipline, which is not isolated units, but from knowledge and concepts that are closely related to previous knowledge and concepts. Consequently, I believe that those who teach must be sure that students have learned math concepts safely before passing on the explanation of knowledge.
Sometimes, however, those who teach are interested in completing the school curriculum at the end of the year and therefore do not always focus on consolidating certain concepts.

elisabetta,Italia

elisabetta_montesi — 2017-09-22 14:37:04 UTC

If math is only a a series of repetitive exercises, the pleasure to operate with the numbers exhausts in few months or years.

Nicoletta, Italy

2017-09-22 15:13:05 UTC

If Maths is unpopular, my opinion is that it is learned as a sequence of automatic procedures. Mathematics, instead, is Science that requires reflection and much semantics: understanding the meaning of words and the meaning of what is done. Another important aspect is that we evaluate the mistakes in a 'punitive' manner, this discourages students. The mistakes, on the other hand, must be an opportunity to reflect together and find the solutions. If we teach Maths as 'discovery' and as a game we can make it love by our students~

Tiziana, Italy

2017-09-22 16:22:03 UTC

Many students are not motivated to study math, especially those with more logical difficulties because they can not solve the exercises alone and therefore do not get the satisfaction from being able to solve the problem alone. Many students do not have the perseverance in continuing to study math, they have difficulties at first and do not understand that engaging they can overcome them, they surrender at first.It is also true that mathematics taught at school is too far from the real world to be appreciated by pupils. I agree that teachers should work harder to make it easier, but above all more useful. Sometimes, it might serve to teach it in the form of a game. Of course, it is difficult for teachers to do it without a hard work.

Simona, Italy, adults school

2017-09-22 17:07:08 UTC

I can say I agree with each one of you, and the most interesting is....it is not an Italian problem! I noticed many students have a bad memory of maths at school, since primary school. So they keep thinking they cannot acieve success on it. Also i noticed children love maths at the beginning of primary school, after that, when topics start becoming more complex, they get frustrated and sometimes they feel anxiety. In my opinion lessons should include mainly basic skills and lot of time for the students to assimilate them, so they do not get in a hurry!

Anastasios Xanthopoulos

2017-09-22 17:43:43 UTC

Well, I think there is a problem with that question in the sense that it implies that maths is unpopular no matter the country, the gender or the socioeconomic background of the learners not to mention other aspects of the educational phenomena such as the content knowledge and the pedagogical content knowledge of the teachers and their expectations from their students. It is not a given such an assumption and if we take it for granted that maths is by their nature difficult for the vast majority of our pupils then maths will be difficult no matter what we do. Pedagogy calls it “a self-fulfilling prophecy”. Therefor I think the question should be like this: “Why is maths considered unpopular?”.

According to my experience, I’m ambivalent. Students are hardly ever motivated and engaged. Boys often are better than girls but not always, and pupils whose parents hold a tertiary education degree are far better than pupils from lesser advanced backgrounds. Students in general, say maths is boring, difficult to comprehend their concepts, useless, irrelevant and excessively abstract. However, there are those who say “I like to draw lines and cycles and triangles and I find pleasure persisting to solve hard problems and riddles”. Students, nevertheless, are not to be blamed, there is a constellation of other factors to be taken in to account. Teachers training and professional development, insufficient textbooks, class size, poor use of the ICT, not enough teaching time and gender stereotypes are some of them.

Cindy, Italy

cinzia_largher — 2017-09-22 19:20:08 UTC

I'm totally agree with what Dan Mayer says in th video: math didactic is disconnected with reality. What you are asked is a sort of quiz where you have to find the right solution among . of defined and limited data. This is not reality, life is more complex and more interesting. We should connect teaching with real life and give the opportunity to the student to learn by discussing, observing and doing. IT could help us to create a better learning environment. Children in the primary school like math, but when problems are more abstracts they feel like not having the skills and they dislike math.

Michela, Italy

beoletto_michela — 2017-09-23 08:45:32 UTC

In my opinion Maths is unpopular becouse there is a problem in the transmission of the sense, the meaning of the subject.
Often teachers aren't be able to connect Maths with the real life of students. I'm totally agree with Dan Mayer.
Maths have a different language, a different code, but also this way to think can be (and have to be) developped.
I think that teachers should be able to intrigue and not to scare students.

Olga, Moldova

olgaiepuras — 2017-09-23 09:52:02 UTC

In my point of view the Math is not for everyone. It is a very hard subject to learn it. The students should very clever and to love this subjet in roder to say that they are goon on this subject. On the other hand the Math teacher must connect the Math with the problems or exercices from our day by day life. This means to be capable to do it and it is not so easy. As we see the Math is a global problem and i faced with this situation many times. For example: the most of the bad grades are at the Math subject and most students are not promoted to mathematics. That's why most of the students don't like mathematics.

Maria Silvia, Italy

2017-09-23 15:03:28 UTC

In my class the students have a good motivation in studying math but they lose it year by year. A lot of them think that they can't improve in this subject because someone else have to help them. I really agree with the video assumption that our students are looking for sit com problem. They have so little patience. On the other hand so often in math, unlike in language study, you can find yourself blocked and unable to do anything. I really like these ideas to teach math in a different way, but I ask to myself: it requires a lot of time, have we enough time? And, will this cause a lack in language skills?

Santa, Italy

2017-09-23 15:38:26 UTC

"Maths is the alfabeth which God used to write the universe"; G.Galilei
For this reason Maths would be natural for everyone. Teachers are
very important for the first approach in primary school. When students grow up they lose interest in study maths and feel are unable to solve problems and to learn correct process.

Agata Brescia, Italy

tatiagata_brescia — 2017-09-23 16:07:59 UTC

Not all my students love Maths. They say:"We're usually bored with the numbers". For this reason, I make my class a pleasure place where they want to be, first of all.
Students learn in different ways. It's important to use alternative strategies to help them feel confident in their mathematical abilities.
A lot of students are frustrated by Maths as their teachers have often an approach such as "Because I said so!".A good Math teacher should be a facilitator of teaching, providing support and guidance where needed.

Alenka, Slovenia

2017-09-23 18:11:16 UTC

Some of my students are frustrated by Maths too. My opinion is that they haven't developed some fundamental skill enough. Every year Maths is more and more difficult for them and they have to make an effort to improve their knowledge. Some of them succeed, but some don't.
Situation in my class is similar Lena's (Germany). One of (good) students offten asks me: 'Where will we need this in everyday life?' Sometimes I can't answer, but I tell them many times that mathematical thinking is good for their brain and when they are solving mathematical problems they are developing. If their brain are not active enough it is not good for them - like muscles of a sportsman - he has to train, otherwise ...

Giovanna, italy

g_maloccu — 2017-09-23 18:37:20 UTC

Maths is everywhere. My little students (7 years old) generally like work and play with maths. I hope they will not loose this good way to see it.

Marijana, Croatia

marijana_vrzic — 2017-09-23 19:54:48 UTC

Mathematics demands constant work and there is no shortcut in Mathematics. Some students don't learn it regulary, they compare it to other subjects where they can skip some parts of that subject and learn some other parts of it and still be good at it, but there is no skipping in Mathematics. If you skip too much, you are in trouble. Mathematics is usually too much hard work for them and they can get much better grades in other subjects with much less effort. That is why many students quickly lose their motivation. They say they are simply not good at Mathematics and give up.

Karen, Germany

2017-09-23 22:03:22 UTC

Maths is undoubtably important for our students to succeed in the 21st century. Personally, I enjoy maths and I think this reflects in my class as they too tend to show a preference. I find those children lacking motivation are the ones who struggle and so showing a lack of interest appears to be a better option for them. I always aim to make my maths hands on and hopefully provide enough variety in tasks to engage every type of learner.

Silvia, Italy

silviagiovannini — 2017-09-23 22:39:23 UTC

I agree with Dan Meyer about teaching Math in a way that can improve intuition. Personally, I have always tried to give the opportunity to my students to undersrand Math through Learning by doing. We are actually surrounded by Math and all we need is to take ideas from everyday life. Whenever I have lost the link with reality I have experienced the boredom with my students. They also experience motivation when they feel I'm involved myself.

Maria Marioara

2017-09-24 08:25:38 UTC

Students love to learn quickly. They will not make much effort. Pupils enjoy learning what is useful to them. They do not understand that math is everywhere. I love math. I include in lessons problems that students encounter in everyday life.

Marian, Czechia

2017-09-24 11:29:59 UTC

Regular learning is main requirement to study math. Students want all immediately and without their energy. If there is not possibility to google it out they are not interested in it anymore.

Simona Costaru, Romania

2017-09-24 13:00:12 UTC

The students want the results "right here, right now". That"s why they don"t like math, because math means practicing and doing hard work and they can"t stay focus for a long time (they need to do something from the real life).

Simona Rifici, Italy

srifici — 2017-09-24 14:36:18 UTC

I'm a primary teacher of math and science. It is not easy to teach these subjects to students that are so young, but I'm trying to do it through games and fun experiences. Because of this playful approach, a lot of my students like math very much. However, the general thinking is that maths is difficult and too hard to understand. The first reaction of my students to a new subject is to not even try.

Mª Antonia Mateos Spain

mantoniamateosc — 2017-09-24 14:44:12 UTC

I have taught classes in Secondary and in the university. Some of them are phobic about some experience that frustrates them and that they do not know how to solve. On the other hand, it depends on the enthusiasm and passion of the teacher that touches them. I have had students who do medicine have gone to make the race of physics for a research work on black holes. I understand that we have to connect them with the reality that surrounds them. This type of students who already feel rejection, if you see the application in what they like to get hooked.

Why Maths unpopular Ζoi, Greece

zetakoli — 2017-09-24 16:07:23 UTC

I teach mathematical concepts in kindergarten and educate teachers to teach them. I have found that kindergarten children show enthusiasm by participating in mathematical actions when they concern everyday problems, challenge them and give them the motivation to participate. In particular, when given a scenario in which they are asked to find a solution. With teachers, the data is different because they find it difficult to find ways to teach mathematical concepts. They can not make them interesting to children but also find the right material and apply the appropriate methods.

Tiziana Panaro, Italy

tizianapanaro — 2017-09-24 18:38:08 UTC

I'm a teacher of English AFL in a secondary school but I also teach CLIL with my Maths colleague to 5th class students who are going to enrol university. I'm very keen on Maths, it is really everywhere! However, in order not to make Maths unpleasant and boring, I feel that the right approach is necessary and today methodology can help a lot.

I've canceled my post by mistake

2017-09-24 18:54:11 UTC

Hi, Its Simona from Italy, I teach in a school for adults. I can say I agree with each of you, but what I really found interesting is ...it's not an Italian problem!!! in my expereince, I noticed many students have a bad memory of their math at school, also thew believe they are not good in maths so they basically are discouraged to learn. Also I strongly think they need more time in order to assimilate basic skills and to be able to use them in a critical way.

Manuel Gil, Spain

lolog70 — 2017-09-24 19:16:19 UTC

Why is Math unpopular?
Well, I don’t think math was a unpopular activity, What it happens is that math are noticed by people as an elite activity far away from reality and real life, and there are only a few people who is able to understand and apply it. Without a doubt, the main reason to this perception is the way maths are learning and teaching; like an abstract subject which have noting to do with real life, but however, math have to do with activities we do continuously, but teacher can’t transmit ours students unfortunaly: to locate, to communicate, to designer, to play, to measure and to calculate

Hasime, Macedonia

hasime — 2017-09-24 20:17:21 UTC

I try to make math more fanny for my students, because they have difficulty to learn math. Lest year in my country math plans has been changed and many of teachers had a problems with math curriculum because for them it is something new and they can easily be familiar with ''New Math". But this year things get normal and we start to familiarizing with math

Alessandra, Italy

2017-09-25 09:12:11 UTC

I think that most of the people see math like a set of formulas and calculus procedures
without sense and tie with reality.
I try to transmit to my students that math is useful in the reality and that the mathematical concept that they are studing are the outcomes
of research originated by real problems; infact I think that can be useful including in the lessons something about the story of mathematic.
Also I think that it's useful show at the students how math is applied in many reality problems and try to give them to solve real problems.
I try to encourage my students but it's not easy because math is a matter that needs good logical skills and not all the students have these
abilities,
students recognize this fact and use it for motivate their hate for math.
Certaily the teacher can, with a right didattic project and the right words, convince them that they can improve, but isn't always easy to do.

Maria,is a pre-school teacher in Romania, Domnesti-Arges

traistarumaria — 2017-09-25 12:42:05 UTC

Francesca, Italy

sessateresa57 — 2017-09-25 13:18:41 UTC

Most of my students like Maths and they believe in their ability about this subject, even if 3 of them think that they are not able by Maths.
They don't say that openlu but I see their thought through their eyes.
I think each student has his time to understand and maybe their

Teresa, Italy

2017-09-25 13:46:24 UTC

ANTONELLA SORCI. Kids usually deal with mathematics with a certain weight early on, thinking they will be fatigued and will not understand it. But I believe that with will necessarily be so and that everyone will be able to review his position and improve. Especially in the medium, math should be proposed in such a way that it is operative, fun and concrete and although sometimes it fails, it is necessary to do everything because it is so

antonella_sorci — 2017-09-25 13:49:02 UTC

Teresa, Italy

2017-09-25 15:00:33 UTC

Renata, Croatia

2017-09-25 15:41:16 UTC

I teach math on 2 levels. There are mathematical gymnasium students that listen to 5-6 math lessons a week and then there are vocational students that listen to 2 lessons a week. One is more theoretical math and the other is practical. This helps me as a teacher to make math more about life. The vocational students don't like math at first, they think it's hard, they don't need it for there jobs, but then they realise that it's usefull to know it. For gymnasium students its also usefull to see how the formula and theorems are connected to the real world.

Jan Preclík, Czech Republic

2017-09-25 15:55:40 UTC

The biggest problem is that pupils always hear that math is difficult. When I start teaching new class, it usually takes a long time to teach pupils to ask and not to learn by heart.

Ramona, Romania

racasanu_betty — 2017-09-25 16:09:59 UTC

Maths is unpopular because it is considered a difficult subject, where it is need to work constantly to understand it. Another reason is that students don't have enough examples to show them that what they learn, like a particular formula or a theorem, is apllied in real life.

Teresa, Italy

sessateresa57 — 2017-09-25 17:35:41 UTC

In my opinion students dislike Maths because they don't link Maths to real life.

Lorenzo Castilla Mora

lorenzo_castilla1 — 2017-09-25 18:16:38 UTC

From my point of view, mathematic is unpopular because students find difficult to see it around them. Also, in math class you have to think and students prefer to do things automatically. Another problem is that it is an abstract subject and needs concentration.
In addition,they constantly hear that it is a very difficult matter and almost impossible to understand.
Attending to teachers, over the years has been taught without showing its utility in daily life and in a very theoretical.
So we have a lot of work ahead to chage all those topics.

Andrea

mangiagalli — 2017-09-25 21:22:52 UTC

Andrea Mangiagalli

mangiagalli — 2017-09-25 21:22:52 UTC

Why not? My students aren't afraid of Maths....I always forget to tell them it's Maths they're studying. And they achieve the goals without realizing it.

Students find maths difficult for three reasons in my experience. 1. They come with a pre-conceived idea that Maths is hard and boring, a message they hear from parents and media. 2. They started learning Maths with a teacher who did not love or understand it themselves, or a teacher who used a single teaching methodology that did not address all student learning needs and blamed the students when they did not understand. 3. Competing with the remote control, instant entertainment world that discourages perseverance and investigation.

2017-09-26 00:52:25 UTC

Marilena, Romania

pusafai1 — 2017-09-26 02:43:03 UTC

In my opinion many students don't like Math because they missed in the past some logic connections in understanding algorithms and abstract concepts.

M-M, Finland

mimaka14 — 2017-09-26 17:23:12 UTC

In my work I have noticed that some parents may easily say to their children" I wasn't good at maths when I was young". I am always trying to tell the parents not to pass their own bad Maths memories to their children. Because most of my students basically like Maths. Of course they sometimes have to work very hard to understand the problems and learn new counting strategies and problem solving skills. But when they have these problems it really doesn't help if parents tell them "you don't have to understand this because I didn't understand it in your age". Parents and teachers job is to motivate the students to use their own brains to ask questions and try to find out the rights answers and not to give up so easily.

Annika- Sweden

2017-09-26 18:05:58 UTC

I would estimate that about 80% of my students are motivated by grades and the other 20% are motivated by a desire to learn. I would say they are often engaged but that many (especially grade oriented students) have little perseverance. I think part of this comes from a desire to not be wrong or a fear of being wrong. We discuss a lot how mistakes are part of the learning process and that it would be silly to spend hours doing things we already know how to do and therefore it makes sense that we make mistakes along the learning path. A lot of my students have actually said that they enjoy math but that they don’t feel confident in it and many students I’ve had that dislike math have told me later that when they understand they enjoy it. So I think that a lot of dislike about math comes from a misunderstanding of skills or of finding things hard. Especially in a day and age when our students get immediate response to all their questions at their fingertips with the internet.

A

2017-09-26 18:05:59 UTC

Mary, Italy

mariapia_borghesan — 2017-09-26 19:41:21 UTC

"Math is hard, boring and not useful" students say... We need to change the way we teach Math. We need more engaging linked to reality lessons, but above all we need to fight against stereotypes!

Cristina G Italy

2017-09-26 20:04:28 UTC

Cristina Ital

2017-09-26 20:05:33 UTC

Cristina, Italy

2017-09-26 20:06:23 UTC

Maths is all around us. We should make our students aware of that. We are surrounded by numbers and problems that we all need to solve every day. We are all mathematicians indeed, but we are not aware of it!

Daniela, Romania

2017-09-26 20:35:28 UTC

Mathematics becomes unpopular when the theoretical notions are not explained by applicative exequences. If in the 5th grade students say they like to play, like math and like to watch science shows, as they grow up they lose the pleasure of working on math. why? Because the game is replaced by patterns by which they learn arid methods of problem solving, without letting them be creative. math is just a passing exam and not a real life tool

Alin, RO

dana_catana — 2017-09-26 20:45:22 UTC

Mathematics tends to become, due to its ultimate goal namely to pass an exam, a boring object. At math time you will learn some formulas to help you reach your goal. In a few cases, you learn what it is good to know math and how to apply it in everyday life. Children now have many means of information and many computing tools; they thus lose the desire to know what the algorithm is underlying the operation of the applications they are using. Adult futures are thus only consumers of the final result without knowing how they came to it.

Leona, Serbia

leonaoros — 2017-09-27 06:30:08 UTC

I think many of my students not even try to discover what math is. They heard from their older brothers/sisters, parents... that math is hard and they believe that. It is hard to change their mind because to succeed in math you need a lot of practice. And that is what many of students don't like.

Milena, Italy

2017-09-27 17:53:11 UTC

My students say they love math because I always encourage them and I propose exercises with fun games and workshops.

Evangelos , Cyprus

2017-09-27 20:26:16 UTC

I believe students' motivation and engagement level is directly connected and depends on 2 things. Firstly the connection with real life and real life problems (questions like "why do we learn this?" or "where can i use that?" etc pointing out the uselessness of what am i about to teach them are very often especially to 14-17 year old students). Secondly, the impact of the teacher on his way of teaching and ability to make what he is about to teach attractive and interesting.

I think most students like every person can improve, not taking in mind the level of improvement (don't forget everyone differs) or the time it takes so (especially the time is highly related to the given effort) as long as they have appropriate encouragement to do so. I believe students know they can improve but maybe their lost of interest or inability of the teacher to intrigue them plays a decisive role.

Not to forget, as said before everybody is different so it is not expected that all students must like maths, which goes without saying for any given subject. That said, a number of students dislike maths, as a number of student dislike history or chemistry etc.
Maths is a subject in which throughout the years a student accumulates and expands his knowledge. So, any gaps of knowledge are also carried forward to the next grade and expand as well. That i believe is something which can explain why many students are frustrated by maths. Somewhere in the process they have missed a piece/pieces of information which are needed or are prerequisite for the next level, thus creating a vicious circle.

Danielle,Romania

danielle_tilinca — 2017-09-27 20:33:07 UTC

My students like math ,in generaly,but i try to use new technologies in learning :mobile learning,lerning using music,youtube

Antonella

cambridgesiciliani — 2017-09-28 16:48:32 UTC

I think maths is unpopular because of the strong connection between the concepts that form an extremely dense network and if a gap creates it is difficult to reconnect

Miryam, Italy

miriamscafatihpg23 — 2017-09-28 22:43:16 UTC

It is considered very difficult

Josipa

josipa314159 — 2017-09-29 14:44:58 UTC

In my opinion, Maths is unpopular becouse it's not about memorizing facts , it demands logical and abstract thinking, persistence and hard work.Maths could be more popular if it were devided into two parts: applied Maths ( mandatory, for every-day use, real life problems) and traditional (optional, for gifted and/or inerested students). Both parts should be taught in a way that motivates students as well as teachers.

Carmen, Romania

2017-09-29 14:50:22 UTC

Unpopular? Hmmmm....not really!
It just needs the brain to be used, and this is something difficult for some people. But Maths can be popular if we start motivating our students.

Sevasti, Greece

sev_asti — 2017-09-29 14:53:19 UTC

Many students voice their dislike of Maths and I believe that this happens because of the way we teach them. We must to encourage them and help them with many ways to practice and believe that they can be better and better.

Aira Karassaari, Finland

2017-09-29 19:56:45 UTC

This year I started with my new 7th graders by asking how they feel about studying math. I got both answers where students said it is easy and answers where some said they hate it, its boring and that they are bad in it. Not one of them said its interesting or that they love it!
I think every students do know the importance of math really well and some students get their motivation by the fact they need it in the future. It is truly important to know the level of every student, both gifted and those who are struggling with basic math and they should all be able to learn on their own level. That is many times hard to arrange with big classes.
One problem is the one we saw on the video, Problems we have on books don't make students want to solve them with passion. For teacher its easy to use book as "a guide" but it would be important to seek inspiring problems out side. There are a lots of things one can improve and this is perhaps what makes this job so intresting :)

2017-09-29 20:32:40 UTC

I'm

Arminda Pereira, Portugal

2017-09-30 08:01:24 UTC

Mathematics is a discipline with its own characteristics. To study mathematics requires a special attitude. It is necessary to see the beauty of mathematics. Students need to practice and understand the usefulness of mathematics in everyday life.The question that I get more often from my students is "what do I need this for?

In fact, Mathematics is used in practically all areas: Economics, Computer Science, Mechanics, Financial Analysis, among many others. Because in our society the sciences and techniques evolve vertiginously, the increasing complexity of theoretical concepts, given the progress of technologies, creates the need for an increasingly strong mathematics. Hence, mathematical science is taught in our day in almost the entire civilized world. The main question that arises is: How to teach mathematics? And the problem is the same as always: How to motivate the student? How to teach him to think? How to make it autonomous?

Thania, Greece

evagmath — 2017-09-30 16:01:29 UTC

Maths demands hard work so we must teach the beauty of the challenge, the joy we feel when we solve a difficult problem, the perseverance and the effort to understand and learn.

Konstantina, Greece

2017-10-01 16:10:23 UTC

My students seems to like maths, but they believe that can improve themselves. They haven’t told me that they don’t like maths. Sometimes they find difficulties at some aspects or exercises. I think they get frustrated when they aren’t used to try and they don’t have the retention needed.

Çelebi, TURKEY

muallim3858 — 2017-10-02 21:16:04 UTC

In mathematics, patience comes first. Because the children of Alpha and Z are impatient, they are prejudiced against the mathematics lesson.

Deniz Çakır, Turkey

decakir — 2017-10-03 21:10:03 UTC

Why is maths unpopular?
What was or is your students' motivation and engagement level? Do they believe in their ability to improve? Have you had students voice their dislike of Maths to you? What were their justifications? Why do you think many students are frustrated by Maths?

I thought about the answers of the questions above. And to answer them, I looked back to my memories which ı got during teaching process.
Parents:
A great majority of parents say "Math is so hard to understand. Also I wasn't good at maths when I was a student."
This is a wideaspread prejudice and really affect students in a negative way.

Students:
Attitude of my pupils is differ from each other. The first time they met with me, most of them say "I dislike, I couldn't understand, Why I need math..etc." . By the time of progress their opinion is changing.. After they see their achievement they believe themselves and gain self-confidence.

Main reasons such as techniques and methodologies used in math lessons, inadequate teacher skills and abilities, not knowing why math is necessary have an negative effect on students' motivation and engagement level.
I believe we can do better for our pupils.

Ulfet, Turkey

2017-10-04 08:54:45 UTC

As an English teacher, I can frankly say I love maths! In Turkey, if you are an English teacher, people think that you have no ability to do maths that's why you are an English teacher. However, I like teaching English and like Maths thanks to my great teacher. He taught me that English and Maths are same, both of them are kind of puzzle. Thanks you Mr. Ozhan.

Anna C.

ciaramellaanna — 2017-10-04 17:23:21 UTC

I'm a primary school teacher and the first 15 years I have never taught math, I did not like much,

when the opportunity was presented to teach math at the beginning was scared of not being able but then I started to love this discipline and I tried to convey this love for math also to my students, using different strategies.

In my opinion, it depends on us teachers to do to love students any discipline, trying not to make it

boring any lessons

Maia , Moldova

etwinning_salcuta — 2017-10-05 17:34:10 UTC

My students love math lessons when they are organized in the computer room. Students use online applications to solve math problems
But at lessons organized in an ordinary classroom - they quickly lose interest.
Many students are frustrated by math, because the curriculum in Moldova for 7 years has not changed. The topics for the study are not selected according to their age

Irma, Hoxha

hoxhairma12 — 2017-10-05 18:39:05 UTC

As math teacher I have seen that there are several reasons why students don't like math. Even math teachers are usually seen as the worst ones. Traditional way of teaching is the main reason why students don't like it. Write-learn-teach-notebook-chalks-blackboard.
BUT We need to TEACH using Internet for math lessons-discuss depending on situations-group works-PBL- twinning classes-using simple materials eg I used 2 children toy cars and a ruler to teach f'(x)

Nicoleta, Romania

nicoletaimbrea — 2017-10-08 12:20:22 UTC

I think that the idea that a student has ”a math brain” or he/she hasn`t got ”a math brain” is the reason why some teachers induce a kind of frustration in their classrooms . If we start from the idea that everyone can learn it, and we search for the best methods to help students understand math, then I think math will be fun and easy for the most of our students.

Adela Gabriela Muresan, Romania

2017-10-08 12:24:43 UTC

i am a primary techer, so I have to teach maths, every day and open my studetns" minds to see that everything is maths: in learning mother language, there are repetitive roules, in arts, to have a good picture, in history, for the most important events for the people.... and the list can continue...so a smart maths people can solve any problem, can find a solution in a hard situation... that"s maths..

Daniela Tanu,Romania,Matca

tiganasu_daniela — 2017-10-08 15:17:42 UTC

Maths is unpopular because it is considered difficult and not easy to understand the text of a problem etc.

Anabela Braga

oficinaformacao2017 — 2017-10-08 19:49:15 UTC

Maths is unpopular because It is necessary to work, to be patient and not give up.

Antonia, Greece

pantonia65 — 2017-10-09 17:26:35 UTC

It is true that Math is not popular with the majority of the students. In my carrier, I have met many pupils who believed that they are bad at math and they are afraid of them, or they found math boring and not useful. The abstract nature of math, the tenacity to formula and the lack of thinking mathematics, have based beliefs like: math is only for the clever people, or for boys etc. Students have changed their perception’s ability, when they had the opportunity to get involved in activities that encourages creativity, curiosity, play and fun.

Maria Ascensión Jiménez, Spain

2017-10-09 18:17:16 UTC

From my point of view, the problem is the traditional method of teaching Maths. Teachers can not teach any subject like 30 years ago. My students like Maths because they learn playing with different materials.

Silvia Patrizia RUGGERI, ITALY

silviap_ruggeri — 2017-10-10 04:25:03 UTC

In my opinion Maths is unpopular for many reasons:
1. pupils listen their parents and other adults which hate Maths and/or they are proud not to be good in Maths;
2. usually students which choose to became teachers for children hate Maths but they have to teach Maths (unfortunately it happens in Italy);
3. not all teachers want to attend a course and compare their teaching style with other teaching styles;
4. it happens that in the same school teachers of Maths don't discuss about what are the main contents and how to teach that content;
5. often the classroom are not suitable to our students, to their learning styles;
6. pupils are often facilited in their difficulties and they are not incited to deal with problems;
7. finally, as CLIL teacher, after studing CLIL methodology, Maths teachers teach content without teaching the specific language you need to speak about Maths.

Alexandra , Greece.

2017-10-10 10:54:52 UTC

ĢLoving Maths i s teachable A teacher who loves Maths accidently teaches his/her student to love Maths. The one who dislikes the subject gives pupil the feeling that Maths is just a truble. Maths are loveable and magic.Their use is obvious as soon as we decide to saw it.
We Greeks are blessed. Our language , greek or hellinic, is the only one worldwide based on a mathimatical base. Someone who loves greek language loves Maths even if he doesnt realise it. Someone who loves Maths loves greek language too.
Let children love Mathematics by playing by music by acting by succeding by gaining goals and target points.
Let children find the pleasure of exploration the joy of ecxperiment to built critic method of thinking sientifical method of acting mathimatical skills .Give them the weapon to live a better and easier life.
Teach them to love Maths

Mary, Italy

mariapia_borghesan — 2017-10-10 16:35:17 UTC

"Math is difficult and too abstract"; " I can't understand it "; " I don't know how to use it in the real life" these are some really common opinions...
Students sometimes don't believe in themselves and in their abilities. They are too worried about failure.

Violeta, Romania

2017-10-11 09:16:08 UTC

Our students have a low motivation and engagement. There are many reasons for this situation: they have too many gaps, different interests (sports, social studies, etc), they don't understand the importance and links to the real world, they had teachers who make them hate maths.

Maths is perceived like a hard subject and most of the students believe that is impossible to improve their maths competences.

It is need of hard work from teacher and students together, good collaboration and communication, various strategies, methods and tools.

Claudia S., Italy

2017-10-12 09:30:17 UTC

I think that many students have some prejudices towards mathematics; they think it's difficult, that they will never understand it; often they think it isn't useful in everyday life. In this way they close their mind, and learning become more difficult. So, the first thing a teacher must do is to take them to have more confidence in themselves, although this is a very difficult task above all when they aren't interested in.
I think that a new way in teaching Maths should help.

Agnieszka, Poland

2017-10-14 15:03:55 UTC

In my opinion little kids like maths ... They like to count, play games, discover rules. 
Only school mathematics forbids them. Kids need to think steadily, to solve the test. 
Children don't understand this and start guessing. And mathematics begins to be difficult for them.

Livia,Romania

2017-10-15 08:07:30 UTC

Many students are frustrated by math because the curriculum is big and they must learn it in short time.And their interest are different by our.They don't see for what need the math.I think I have to encourage the pupils often and propose many games or use new Technologies in learning.We have to put the theoretical notions in our reality,

Afroditi, Greece

romanidou — 2017-10-17 06:12:45 UTC

In kindergarten students like |Maths. They count in daily situations and when they face a problematic issue they try create their rules to solve it. They think and find solutions through games.

Maria Letizia N., Italia

2017-10-17 16:55:04 UTC

In my opinion Maths is considered too difficult because it require to think.

So I see in my students a low motivation and they don’t believe to improve yourself. But, when I try to teach mathematics by playing, then my students are interesting.Their justifications are that in this way every rule become easy. Actually, this isn't always possible.

Francisco Durán, Spain

2017-10-21 10:54:07 UTC

I think my students are enough motivated because I try to make Mathematics funnier, useful and close to their context. I also use a variety of resources, many of them related to using ICT devices.

And yet, I listen every school year expressions like “I’m not good at Maths” or “I never liked Maths”.

I think they come to my classroom with so bad motivation because the majority of our current Math teachers (at least in my zone) are still using 20th century methods.

Ligia Surugiu, Romania

ligiasurugiu — 2017-10-21 16:46:42 UTC

Math is unpopular because "moves the brain" and most of pupils don't use their abilities!

Ana A., Pt

anaparreira — 2017-10-22 17:24:31 UTC

It's funny being in opposing continents the problems of our students in mathematics are the same. My students and I have been a teacher for 25 years, most of them, when they enter math class and they already have 4 years of teaching, they soon enter the weight of mathematics being difficult and not being able to have good results. Some say, "My father did not understand math." Is it not to understand the math and chromosome that passes from father to son? !! Let's go to work we can’t allow this and I always try to demystify this question, we can’t, but we have to realize, participate in our knowledge, clarify and work ...

Claudia, Italia

2017-10-22 20:16:20 UTC

my students do not like studying theory from books. Engaging them through interactive tests and examples or by offering them interdisciplinary courses where they can play both math and technology. You create a friendly environment in the classroom and see improvements. I'm a math teacher but my love for matter started only at high schools ... before I myself saw it as a boring and mechanical matter because they explained it to me without passion and rigidity.

Bruno, Brazil

ex14638 — 2017-10-25 18:16:23 UTC

I only teached in adults classes, in which the students wanted to learn, but they did not feel good enough to do that. Most students said they did not like math, which was caused by lack of patience to resolve the problems. they had all the symptoms mentioned in the video, so I concluded that there was a problem in teaching.

Cristina, Romania

2017-10-29 20:55:25 UTC

Math is perceived by students as a difficult discipline that they are not able to understand. Also they think that is almost impossible to improve their competencies in math.

Laura

lauragiunta9 — 2018-09-27 16:32:42 UTC

I'm a maths teacher and some of my students claim that they hate maths.In my opinion ,the new generation needs a more practical approach to maths rather than teori
cal.They become more interested if they get involved in real experience and use technology to learn.

MURAT, TÜRKİYE

ayal — 2018-11-15 21:03:15 UTC

Ezber yerine ispat. test yerine yaparak öğrenme ile daha kalıcı bir öğrenmem mümkündür bence

2019-02-19 14:17:02 UTC

Why is Maths unpopular? Share your views to the questions above here and in your Learning Diary. Avatar of Teacher Academy Teacher Academy + 175 ●

2019-02-19 14:17:04 UTC

What is Mathematical Investigation?

Ina, Croatia

2020-09-07 07:52:25 UTC

Kindergarten kids love math. Getting acquainted with numbers, subtraction, addition, sets, sequences through play.

I think that later in school the whole approach to the subject changes and it becomes difficult and uninteresting for children.

Nurcan GÜNEŞ DEMİRTAŞ

gunesnurcan — 2021-02-14 19:28:42 UTC

Matematiği günlük hayattan kopuk bir şekilde öğretmeye çalışıyoruz. Eğlendirerek değil ezberleterek öğretmek.

i am math teacher

non82731 — 2021-02-19 02:04:42 UTC

Akgül Güçlü

akgulguclu — 2021-03-10 16:02:43 UTC

Mathematics studies should be transformed into everyday conversation topics.