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Ask any school-going child what maths problems are and he’ll give you a long list of answers! Some children find numbers and their calculations so frightening that they develop physiological disorders. Some children are good with numerical problems while some are good with word problems. What is important is to understand the concepts behind the problem. Once this is cleared, solving maths problems becomes easy.

First of all, a lot depends on how the child is introduced to maths in primary school. A teacher should be tolerant and patient in his methods of teaching. Some children are born with a knack to solving maths problems while others learn the hard the way. Encourage students to think on their own. Guide them in their direction of thinking. Motivate them to take their own initiative over memorization of skills. Never compare the progress of one student with another. This will dishearten him totally. Each child is an individual with unique abilities. The fact is some learn faster than others. Patience is a virtue that characterizes a true teacher.

Students too, should follow some rules when learning. Take responsibility for studying and recognize what they do and don’t know. Attendance in class is a must. Learn to take down complete notes in the class. Being an active participant in the classroom helps a lot and if you don’t understand something, do not be afraid to ask questions. There should be no room for doubts at all. Practice good study habits. Read the problem carefully. Break it down into parts if necessary. Understand what you are expected to do first and then follow it through. Concentrate on what you are doing. And most importantly, DO problems. Maths is learnt by doing, and not just reading. The more problems you solve the better understanding of it you will have. This will in turn increase your interest in the subject. Study regularly. Get a good night’s sleep prior to an exam. Stick to your regular routine of the day on the day of the test. For example, if you are in the habit of eating bread and jam for breakfast, stick to it as this will give you a feeling that the day is like any other day and not THE DAY OF THE TEST!

Parents also have an important role to play in helping their children cope with maths problems. Take time to discuss the child’s difficulties. Help him to organize his thoughts. Start from the basic level and build it up. If the fundamentals are well understood, his progress in learning maths will be easy. Instill in the child a positive approach towards learning maths. Never criticize him for being a slow learner. Be patient with his progress. Reward him with encouraging words when he is right. This will boost his confidence level and in turn will make him want to do better. It will also help increase his liking for the subject. And as it is so well known, what one likes, one does well.

If the above simple rules are carried out, a child will do well in his progress in maths. Actually, learning to solve maths problems is a lesson in learning to solve the problems one faces in life. The steps are quite the same. Recognize the problem. Understand it. Break it down into pieces and start solving it piece by piece by using the tools we have acquired. Gradually, the whole problem will get solved. Oh, if only life were so easy!

If someone as great as Einstein can say: “Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics, I assure you that mine are greater,” surely we mortals need not suffer from a complex at our lack of abilities in solving maths problems in a jiffy!