MYP Math in Lahore

Math Myth #1
You just need more practice!

Why does your math lesson feel like a football practice session?
Math too is a body of information.
It can be read, understood and used.

Don't you find it strange that on a parent-teacher-meeting [conference] the ultimate solution for a low math score is 'needs more practice'? Which, might be surprising to some, is not the football coach's usually advise!

Why is this so and what can you, the student, do?

***The WHY***

1st math is currently taught as a procedural subject. A set of instruction (method). Use the formula to get the result.
Similar to how a person, who begins cooking, uses recipes. Find the ingredients and mix them in a certain order.

2nd school math books are mostly developed along the same pattern. You can call them "math cookbooks". They won't make you a chef. Just simply provides an experience of disconnected flavours. Each formula doing the job on its own but not allowing you to develop your own flavours.

3rd math teachers have known the math you have. Expecting them to teach it differently might not be an option.

***The WHAT***
Ask follow-up questions.
"Which area of math do I need to know before attempting this topic?"
"What am I missing in this topic? Is it the application of the formula or identification of the terms?"
"Is there any other way (method) to solve this problem"

You, as a student, can look at 3 areas while staying within the procedure based teaching:
A. Identify pre-requisites for the current topic. Single digit addition (2+6) is required before attempting double digit one (22+66)
B. Get insight on the questions attempted.
C. Ask for another method to solve the same question. You might find it easier.

Hope your practice can now be more mindful.

***Summary***
Math is mostly taught as learning procedure: formula and its application.
Math school book and the teachers it has produced are happy with keeping it procedural.
Math student can look for alternate methods to solve the same problem.