

Getting the actual arithmetic right - the bit a calculator can do - is something that’s more straightforward. A lot of what goes into solving multi-step word problems is identifying the problem, selecting an appropriate approach to solving it (there may be more than one), and following the right order of operations. However, math is about much more than arithmetic. Note, being fast at arithmetic is also quite practical in many professions, from carpentry to retail, rocket science, and making the trains run on time! Numbers are all around us and being able to work with them quickly and efficiently is a great life skill to have. One, you may not always have a calculator available two, even if you do, understanding how and why to do it for yourself gives a stronger basis for future learning, and three, doing arithmetic is a mental work-out that strengthens your working memory. The answer to this last point is three-fold. Or they may question why they need to be able to do basic arithmetic like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division by hand when answers can easily be found using a calculator or a computer. They may not see the point in learning algebra, geometry, or calculus at school. In fact, many students complain that math is boring. It often focuses on rote learning and solving equations in books – think arithmetic and times tables – which can turn students off and cause them to believe math skills aren’t relevant to their day to day life. This is because whereas pre-school math is about practical problem solving, noticing patterns, recognizing shapes in your environment and learning to count, secondary and high school math instruction becomes more abstract. Math is one of those subjects that is poorly understood by both children and adults. Lastly, children with visual processing disorders might lack the visual-spatial processing skills they need to align numbers, read graphs, and perform basic geometric operations. Students with dysgraphia and dyspraxia, who have a hard time writing by hand, might become so distracted by number formation that they make careless errors or get the steps in an equation in the wrong order. Kids with ADD/ADHD can rush ahead and skip a step or struggle to focus and be unable to check their work once they’ve finished a problem. They might reorder digits when doing work out on paper, or solve problems correctly but record their answers in the wrong way. However, students with dyslexia may also have a hard time with math at school due to difficulty reading numbers and following word problems. The most commonly associated condition is dyscalculia, in which individuals struggle with performing basic calculations and have trouble manipulating numbers in the same way as their peers. But sometimes the root cause of under-performance is something different, like a learning difference or a motor skills difficulty.
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There are a number of reasons why a child may be having problems with math at school, from low motivation caused by math anxiety, to a poor understanding of how to apply and perform mathematical operations.
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Given the right combination of classroom accommodations and learning strategies, every student can achieve his or her full potential in math.

That’s why it’s key to identify issues early on. Having basic math skills is important, regardless of the career an individual chooses to pursue.

Moreover, as math is cumulative, falling behind might mean a learner misses out on much of what is taught for the rest of the school term. Over time, repeated underperformance in math can cause a student to become demotivated and believe he or she is “stupid” or not good at the subject.

These may be otherwise bright children who have a keen sense of logic and reasoning but still perform poorly on homework, tests, and quizzes. Many kids have trouble with math, but some students find it more difficult than others.
