How to Study Math

By Tara L. Davis 2008

Inspired by C. Doherty and A. Smith 2003Math and Problem Solving Skills Powerpoint

For use with Math Behaviors Checklist and Math Study Skills Inventory Assessments Images used for educational purposes only.

Try and Try Again If you haven’t done so take the following assessments:

Math Behaviors Checklisthttp://www.qcc.mass.edu/t3/ORT/mathbehavior.html

Math Study Skills Inventoryhttp://www.qcc.mass.edu/t3/ORT/mathskills.html

Practice Makes Perfect Math is a skill that must be practiced, so always use the same

general study tips as for any other class!

Don’t miss any classes – catching up is difficult especially if you’ve had trouble with the subject in the past.

Do homework and practice even if it is not required to turn in.

Read ahead. Even though you may not understand everything.

Homework Helps Clearly mark incorrect homework problems and try to figure out

where you made the error.

Attempt all homework problems EVEN IF you get the wrong answer or can only do half the problem. You’ll be surprised at the number of times you are on the right track.

Don’t rely on your calculator to do your thinking for you. A calculator is a great tool, but it is not as smart as you are.

Homework Helps Don’t rush through your homework.

Do your math homework a little at a time, if you need to, in between other studies so that you aren’t overwhelmed.

Do math homework every day and study everyday. The more you review the less time you will spend studying overall.

If you find certain sections too easy, then challenge yourself and find a harder problem to work on to be sure you can do it.

It’s okay to count on your fingers.

Try and Try Again Don’t skip a problem just because it is difficult. You’ll learn more

by doing it wrong than not doing it at all.

Review and practice often. Sometimes things will “click” and sometimes you must do many problems before you “get it”.

Having the basic skills is the key to doing more difficult problems. They may have more steps, but they follow the same rules.

Accept the fact that you will make mistakes and to succeed you must work at it.

Here it is!

Be Awake and Aware

Don’t let yourself “zone out” when studying or doing homework Work in short bursts Take a break and have a snack Stand up and move around Use your note cards for a memory game Work with plenty of light Be comfortable but not so comfortable you fall asleep!

Hmm…Think the math…be the math…Yes! Got it!!

Be Awake and Aware

If you are in class and feel a “zone out” Stretch and take a deep, cleansing breath Remind yourself to focus and sit up straight Chew gum, have a mint, or piece of hard candy

ARRRRGH!

Confidence and Common Sense

Be confident, but not over-confident. No matter what you think you know, there will be small things

that you will miss if you rush and don’t check your work or avoid homework altogether.

There may be deadlines and due dates, but you may need to spend extra time after that to learn concepts you find difficult until you master them.

Think about the lesson and ask yourself questions about each problem. Knowing what the answer isn’t is also important!

Seek Out Help

If a topic is giving you trouble, do extra problems and write down questions for the instructor.

Get help as soon as you need it, don’t wait.

Use the free tutoring services at the math center

Form a study group; talking about a topic helps recall.

Rewards

To avoid burning yourself out, take time to reward yourself with a fun activity after you’ve studied.

Don’t forget that humor is a great stress reliever!

Foxtrot by Bill Amend

Related Assignments

Lesson: How to Study Math Lesson: Study Skills Matrix Powerpoint: How to Study

Sources

Sources from Original Powerpoint Presentation 2003 by C. R. Doherty and A. Smith

Study Skills Handbook, Learning Assistance Center, Northern Arizona University Math Anxiety, Middle Tennessee State University http://www.mtsu.edu/~devstud2/anxiety.html Math Power, Professor Freedman’s Math Help- http://www.mathpower.com/reduce.htm Tips for Making Mathematics Your Friend http://jcc.sunyjefferson.edu/tgrosse/ Tim Grosse. Math Counts http://mathcounts.org/Problems/strategies.html Math Academy/ Platonic Realms- http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/anxiety/index.asp#strat Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/critical.htm Mind Tools Problem Solving and Analytical Techniques http://www.psywww.com/mtsite/page2.html Reducing math anxiety and study tips, Rogue Community College

http://www2.roguecc.edu/Mathematics/Math%20Anxiety/managing_math_anxiety.htm Oakland Community College http://www.occ.cc.mi.us/iic/iicah/AH_WWW_SSS_MAT.HTM

Added Sources for Update 2008 by Tara L. Davis

Foxtrot Comics by Bill Amend: http://www.foxtrot.com Calvin and Hobbes Comics by Bill Waterson: http://www.calvinandhobbes.com/ F Minus Comic Tony Carillo: http://fminus.net Frank and Ernest Comic bu Bob Thaves: http://www.frankandernest.com Weapons of Math Destruction Comic: http://www.oaknorton.com/weaponsofmathdestruction2.cfm Today’s Cartoon by Randy Glasbergen: http://www.glasbergen.com GJCalkins: http://www.mightwombat.com Math Power: math.ucsd.edu/~rmrichar/images/mathpwr.gif King Henry the Eighth: http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/tzu/lowres/tzun535l.jpg Number Party by Mark Parisi: http://www.offthemark.com Daydream Destroyer 5.0 strip adapted from: http://geppp.blogspot.com/2007/10/math-class-1.html