Giving them the idea that "math" as a concept can be something you can choose to not engage in because "some people just aren't good at it". Like anything, it takes understanding and practice. It gives kids an out from grappling with challenging concepts and expanding their cognitive abilities
I vividly remember watching my classmates turn their brains off (through no fault of their own!) in real time when math or reading or even biology classes started later on. And say stuff like "I can't understand any of this", "it isn't even worth trying" etc.
This isn't to invalidate anybody's experience with dyscalculia or similar, or anybody that struggled for non-diagnosable reasons, but anything that builds up any subject as this unapproachable thing that you are predetermined to be good/bad at can rob a kid or adult of the opportunity to give it an honest attempt with a positive attitude.
My advice for parents or other role models is to say "I've forgotten how to do this" or "they didn't teach it like this when I was little" or even "i used to struggle with x subject" instead of saying "I am bad at/can't do x subject". It's a subtle difference, but for kids, it's not that they can't do it, they just haven't gotten it yet.
Why can't you choose not to engage with math? I would say most adults require very little engagement with math. For most people, understanding and practice requires motivation. What motivates me to learn advanced mathematics? If you want to be a physicist or engineer I guess you'll be motivated to learn but for most people it just seems like a headache or waste of time.
Giving them the idea that "math" as a concept can be something you can choose to not engage in because "some people just aren't good at it". Like anything, it takes understanding and practice. It gives kids an out from grappling with challenging concepts and expanding their cognitive abilities
I vividly remember watching my classmates turn their brains off (through no fault of their own!) in real time when math or reading or even biology classes started later on. And say stuff like "I can't understand any of this", "it isn't even worth trying" etc.
This isn't to invalidate anybody's experience with dyscalculia or similar, or anybody that struggled for non-diagnosable reasons, but anything that builds up any subject as this unapproachable thing that you are predetermined to be good/bad at can rob a kid or adult of the opportunity to give it an honest attempt with a positive attitude.
My advice for parents or other role models is to say "I've forgotten how to do this" or "they didn't teach it like this when I was little" or even "i used to struggle with x subject" instead of saying "I am bad at/can't do x subject". It's a subtle difference, but for kids, it's not that they can't do it, they just haven't gotten it yet.
You’re just repeating the article, comrade. That’s no different than the writers statement.
The article says there’s research behind it, but I didn’t see where it was presented. Did I miss it somewhere?
Idk I didn't read the article, but I was a teacher for 10 years
Why can't you choose not to engage with math? I would say most adults require very little engagement with math. For most people, understanding and practice requires motivation. What motivates me to learn advanced mathematics? If you want to be a physicist or engineer I guess you'll be motivated to learn but for most people it just seems like a headache or waste of time.