Math is a language. The problem is that this language is archaic, difficult to teach, and is generally taught very poorly.
I remember learning calculus in college. The professor went up to the board, scribbled down symbols, and took us through various procedures. I was absolutely, utterly lost until my father (an engineer) told me that "a derivative is a rate of change."
At that instant, I understood everything. My professor never said this.
This taught me to approach math concepts-first, and that helped, but I've always had a problem with math. To make a long story short: I hate math for the same reason that I hate Perl. My mind recoils in horror from messy, crufty languages.
At the very least, all math lessons should begin by teaching the language and the concepts that the various symbols, arrangements, etc. refer to. Only once the language is thoroughly grasped should they proceed to methods, procedures, and problems. Right now it's like teaching Chinese literature before teaching Chinese...
I remember learning calculus in college. The professor went up to the board, scribbled down symbols, and took us through various procedures. I was absolutely, utterly lost until my father (an engineer) told me that "a derivative is a rate of change."
At that instant, I understood everything. My professor never said this.
This taught me to approach math concepts-first, and that helped, but I've always had a problem with math. To make a long story short: I hate math for the same reason that I hate Perl. My mind recoils in horror from messy, crufty languages.
At the very least, all math lessons should begin by teaching the language and the concepts that the various symbols, arrangements, etc. refer to. Only once the language is thoroughly grasped should they proceed to methods, procedures, and problems. Right now it's like teaching Chinese literature before teaching Chinese...