Math Homework Help
There may not be a formal "phobia" for the fear you may feel set in when you get a big math homework assignment to take home but there should be. Of all of the subject areas students face in school, often it is math that strikes the most fear for lots of reasons. The new math concepts come fast and furious during a semester of math instruction. You can be on top of the world one week and following the progression of ideas quite well only to find yourself hopelessly lost the next week.
When you fall into the "hopelessly lost" category, coming home with a long math homework assignment to face down alone can be a terrifying idea. You know you have to try to tackle that homework. But you feel intimidated, lost and frightened which leads to procrastination. This is a cycle that will not end well. One solution may be to open the book and read the chapter over and over in hopes you get a breakthrough.
If that works, you are one of the lucky ones. But if you were lost in class, the problem is probably much worse when you are alone with your homework assignment and that textbook that might as well be written in ancient Sanskrit for all the good it is to you. Instead of beating yourself up about the math issues you have, there has to be a better way. The better way is to find someone to give you some help and get you back "in the groove" as to where you are in your math assignments.
Obviously you want to find the path of least resistance in getting some help. Your network of immediate friends is a good resource. Someone you know well may understand this particular assignment. Don’t be afraid to approach that friend for study date to pick his or her brain. In addition to the help you get, its much easier to do tough homework with a friend than to face it alone. But if you can't find the help in your inner circle of trusted friends, think about the other kids in the class and which ones always seem to know what the heck is going on. One of them may be willing to tutor you.
It might seem like a your least favorite place to go for help but there are two places you can go that are easy to get to, free and who want you to be a success. That is your parents or your teachers. Too many students are afraid to go to the teacher after class to admit that you just don’t understand the assignment. But the teacher will be thrilled you were willing to seek help and if anything, reaching out for help can only help your final grade.
Similarly, you may fear getting yelled at if you go to your parents for help. But they would far rather help you than see you fail. Your parents may be closet math whizzes and you just didn’t know. But even if they aren't, they will be willing to get you the help you need. Better to swallow your pride and go to one of these sources than to sit and suffer with "math phobia" which only leads to frustration and potential failure.
