
How to teach maths to pupils who don't like maths
It’s not uncommon for pupils to dislike maths. We regularly hear the phrase “I’ve never really been good at maths”. So how do we change this mentality?
First, we must understand that this is more problematic than students simply not liking maths - some feel anxious when trying to learn the subject. From here we must build their confidence and encourage them to get involved in maths lessons. How do we do this? We need to inspire our pupils to embrace maths, and as we do, we’ll have the much easier job of teaching the subject to students who want to learn it.
Understand why your students are reluctant to learn
The Maths Anxiety Trust has recognised that students who say they “don’t like maths” actually experience some very negative feelings towards the subject, such as helplessness and mental disorganisation. A study they conducted found that 25% of students have Maths Anxiety, and a further 15% have experienced it.
So, as teachers, it is our duty to help students overcome this fear of maths. When students are overwhelmed with the feeling of not understanding a subject their mind will go blank. Rather than struggling to make sense of it they make the bold statement – “I hate maths” - because this is easier than facing how anxious the confusion makes them. These students will resist your enthusiastic attempts to teach which can make it very difficult to get them involved in your maths lessons.
Build their confidence
Break their defeatism
The first thing you must do is help your pupils break their defeatism. Begin by disrupting the notion that maths is “too hard”. Of course, even strong maths students can be daunted when they are overwhelmed with new information, so new concepts should be gradually introduced, and you should only move onto more complex problems once they have grasped the concept. Otherwise, this will lead to gaps in their knowledge and further confusion as the problems get harder.
Combat the gaps in their background knowledge
It’s likely that your pupils already have a few existing gaps in their knowledge, so if you can identify what those are it can prevent them becoming frustrated further into the syllabus. Imagine their learning being scaffolded one skill at a time; this careful construction ensures that they understand each step carefully, it becomes the building block for more complex problems and will result in a deeper level of understanding.
Show your pupils they can get better at maths
This growth mindset of gradually introducing harder problems will help your pupils realise that they can get better at maths. This is essential if you want to break down the mental block that many students put up towards maths.
Get your students to embrace maths
Introduce games
To really get your pupils to embrace maths you need to think about how you can get them to participate in lessons. A great strategy is to begin every lesson with an inclusive game that will boost their involvement. This can be as simple as a quick-fire mental maths round where you go around asking each student a question and they if they get it wrong, they take a seat. The benefit of this game is that if you know each student’s capability fairly well you can alter the difficulty of the question to suit their ability; this will help give a boost to students who aren’t confident in maths.
Are you interested in finding other maths games to engage your pupils? Explore more games for primary students and secondary students.
Use technology
Pupils both in primary and secondary schools were raised in the digital age. While there is an ongoing debate about whether the younger generation spends too much time looking at a screen, we should not ignore the fact that technology can sometimes be more stimulating than reading from a textbook. Online platforms, like Mathletics, offer activities that can be particularly helpful for students who need auditory and visual stimuli to assist their learning.
There are plenty of free maths learning resources too. Students can choose to revise modules which they are struggling with and many of these online tools have interactive assessments that let them track their progress. Encourage your pupils to spend time exploring these resources or even use them to assign homework tasks.
Explore teaching opportunities with Teaching Personnel
How would you like to be a part of the change that teaches our pupils to love maths? Take a look at our latest maths teacher jobs or register with us to keep up to date with new job opportunities. Teaching Personnel has over 80 branches around the UK, making our recruitment consultants best placed to help you find your next school. Interested in reading more blogs and advice? Find the latest maths news here.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£12.90 - 13.50 per hour
Location free text
Bispham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Lancashire
Description
Childcare Practitioner roles across Blackpool and the Fylde!Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to support teachers and inspire young minds?We are currently seeking dedicated and enthusiastic
Reference
CHILDCARETH54OW6
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire North PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire North PrimarySalary
Market related
Location free text
Penzance
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £500 per week
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Penzance
Description
Exciting Opportunity: Level 3 Teaching Assistant ApprenticeLocation: CornwallEmployer: Teaching PersonnelAre you passionate about supporting children's education and eager to kickstart your career in
Reference
L3APPPENZ
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Cornwall PrimaryAuthor
Cornwall PrimarySalary
£150 - 200 per day
Location free text
Leeds
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Science
Location
West Yorkshire
Description
At Teaching Personnel, we are looking to recruit a Biology Teacher for one of our secondary schools in Leeds.Are you prepared to unlock the mysteries of life and inspire young minds to explore the w
Reference
Biology MS LS
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£85 - 90 per day
Location free text
Hull
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Secondary
Location
Hull
Description
Exam Invigilators Wanted in Hull! Are you organised, reliable, and looking for flexible work? Teaching Personnel is recruiting Exam Invigilators to support schools in Hull during exam periods
Reference
ExamInvigHull18.02
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£90 - 150 per day
Location free text
Northampton
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Cover Supervisor
Location
Northampton
Description
Supply Teachers Wanted in Wellingborough & Rushden! Join Teaching Personnel Today! Are you a passionate and adaptable teacher looking for flexible work in Wellingborough and Rushden? Whether you’re an
Reference
st0525nn10
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£85 - 90 per day
Location free text
York
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Secondary
Location
York
Description
Exam Invigilators Wanted in York! Are you organised, reliable, and looking for flexible work? Teaching Personnel is recruiting Exam Invigilators to support schools in York during exam periods. No exp
Reference
ExamInvigYork18.02
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£140 - 170 per day
Location free text
Hull
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Design and Technology
Location
Hull
Description
DT Teacher – HullInspire the Next Generation of Designers and Innovators!Teaching Personnel is looking for an enthusiastic Design and Technology (DT) Teacher to join a dynamic secondary school in Hull
Reference
DTTeachHull18.02
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£85 - 100 per day
Location free text
Hull
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Cover Supervisor
Location
Hull
Description
Children’s Sports Coach – HullInspire Young Athletes with Teaching Personnel!Are you passionate about sports and eager to make a difference in young people’s lives? Teaching Personnel is looking for a
Reference
ChildSCHull18.02
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£3,079.60 - 4,239.20 per month
Location free text
Tiverton
Job Type
Part Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
English
Location
Devon
Description
Join Our Team as an English Teacher in Tiverton!Are you passionate about inspiring young minds through the power of literature and language? Teaching Personnel is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic
Reference
JDENGTIV
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Exeter BranchAuthor
Exeter BranchSalary
£90 - 251 per day
Location free text
Northampton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
Sector
Maths
Location
Northampton
Description
Mathematics Teachers Wanted in Northampton! Are you an enthusiastic and committed Mathematics Teacher looking for a rewarding opportunity in Northampton? Teaching Personnel is actively recruiting pass
Reference
maths/0225
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Related posts

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
As Spring approaches, it's a critical date for many teachers in the UK who may be contemplating their professional future ahead of the February 28th resignation deadline. While teaching remains on
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD02YY
Summary
Teaching assistants support teachers and students in the classroom. The role is invaluable and continues to grow in importance as school environments become larger and more diverse. In fact, teach
by
West Yorkshire Primary

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
When you worked as a teacher, you may have looked forward to retirement, as it meant having more time for leisurely activities or spending more time with loved ones. However, the novelty of retire

by
Scott Owen
.jpg)
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
In the last three years, the likelihood of young people having mental health problems has increased by 50%. According to a report by The Health Foundation, one in six children aged six to 16 in Englan

by
Scott Owen

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
Recent reports state that special schools are seeing a decrease in enrollment. Many local authorities aim to integrate more children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) into mainst
by
Adam Davies
.jpg)
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD12YY
Summary
The festive season and the end of term are quickly approaching! To help you prepare, our Payroll team has shared all the essential dates you need to ensure you get paid before Christmas. Check out t
by
Zuzana Vrtalova
.jpg)
Teaser
NurseryContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
The government has announced new nursery funding and the introduction of free before-school breakfast clubs. These initiatives will bring change to early education. Yet staffing them will be a c
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
On the 5th of November, we are excited to unveil our new eLearning platform, the Educator CPD Academy. This innovative platform will enhance your learning experience while maintaining a
by
Zuzana Vrtalova

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
As 31st October approaches, it’s a significant date for many teachers in the UK who may be considering their professional future. Teaching has always been one of the most rewarding professions. Y
by
Adam Davies

Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Teaching assistants (TAs) are an invaluable part of schools today. Their dedication and hard work deserve to be celebrated! Their impact is so meaningful that pupils often remember the differenc
by
Zuzana Vrtalova
Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales
Register today
Recent job