Why So Many Students Struggle With Maths & How To Help

“I just don’t get it!”

If you are a parent, you have probably heard this frustrated cry echoing from the kitchen table during homework time. Maths has a reputation for being the schoolyard villain. The subject that causes the most tears, the blankest stares, and the heaviest sighs. But if your child is dreading their maths lessons, they certainly aren’t alone. Many parents feel helpless watching their bright children stumble over numbers, unsure of how to bridge the gap between confusion and confidence.

This blog is here to reassure you that these struggles are common, understandable, and, most importantly, solvable.

Why Do Students Struggle With Maths?

Maths is unique because it is a cumulative subject; unlike history or geography, where you can learn a new topic without mastering the previous one, maths requires a solid foundation to build upon.

If a student misses a key concept in Grade 4, they will likely struggle in Grade 5 because the new work assumes they already understand the basics.

This “knowledge gap” is a major issue in South Africa.

According to the recent TIMSS 2023 results, South African Grade 5 learners achieved an average score of 362, which is substantially below the international centre point of 500. This statistic highlights that many students are trying to build complex structures on shaky foundations, leading to anxiety and a lack of confidence rather than a lack of ability.

How To Help Students With Maths

Changing your child’s relationship with maths doesn’t always require hours of drilling times tables; sometimes, it requires a fresh approach.

Here are 5 practical, slightly unconventional tips to help your child find their rhythm with numbers:

• The “Teach-Back” Technique: The best way to learn something is to teach it. Ask your child to explain a maths concept to you, as if you were the student and they were the teacher. This forces them to clarify their own understanding and highlights exactly where they might be getting stuck. Plus, it boosts their confidence to be the “expert” for a change!
• Bake Your Way to Better Fractions: Abstract concepts are hard to grasp, so make them edible! Baking is a delicious science that requires precise measurements. Scaling a recipe up or down (doubling it or halving it) is a fantastic, low-pressure way to practice fractions and ratios without it feeling like work.
• Visualise with LEGO: Who says toys are just for playtime? LEGO bricks are incredible tools for visualising maths. You can use individual bricks to teach addition and subtraction, or different-sized blocks to visually demonstrate fractions and parts of a whole. It turns an abstract number on a page into a tangible object they can hold.
• The Grocery Store Game: Mental maths is a skill that fades without practice. When you go shopping, give your child a budget and ask them to keep a running total of the trolley. Ask them to estimate the weight of vegetables or calculate the best value between two brands. It shows them that maths is a real-world tool, not just a classroom chore.
• Focus on the “Yet”: This is a mindset shift rather than a study tip. When your child says, “I can’t do this,” gently correct them to, “I can’t do this yet.” This small word introduces the idea of a growth mindset. The belief that intelligence isn’t fixed and that effort leads to improvement.

Maths Tutoring Is Always There!

Sometimes, despite your best efforts at home, a student needs a professional guide to help fill those foundational gaps.

That is where Tutor Doctor comes in. We understand that every student learns differently, which is why we don’t use a “one size fits all” approach.

Our maths tutoring programmes are customised to your child’s specific curriculum and learning style. We are proud to work with the best tutors in SA who are not only experts in their subjects but are also mentors who rebuild confidence.

Schedule a free consultation with us today, and let’s get your child back on track.

Transforming Anxiety Into Achievement

To recap, maths struggles often stem from missed foundational concepts, not a lack of intelligence. By understanding the root of the problem and applying practical, engaging strategies at home, you can turn dread into curiosity.

And remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Professional support can make a world of difference.

As the mathematician Paul Halmos once said:

“The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.”

Let’s help your child start doing it with confidence!