Why Practice and Confidence Matter When Learning Maths
My First Experiences of Wheel Throwing
A few months ago, after completing a short course in wheel throwing, trimming and glazing, I joined a studio so that I could spend more time practising. I have discovered that I absolutely love doing pottery. There is something so sensual about it, so focused when I am working on something and also something so absolutely frustrating about it at the same time!
The first day that I went to the studio, I was so keen and eager and excited that I could now spend as long as I wanted to start making some bowls and cups. But, that first session was a disaster! I had forgotten everything! After an hour, with a whole load of wet clay in a bowl from all my failed attempts, I was feeling very despondent. In fact, I was feeling just like many of my students feel in every maths class. No matter how hard they try, they just aren’t getting it.
I continued to struggle for a few more sessions – I was always convinced that the next time would be so much better! I spent many hours watching videos talking about all the different techniques to throw successfully. I came across at least 3 different ways to make the sides of my pot taller but none really worked very well.
The Difference the Right Support Can Make
I finally decided to have a private lesson to go through the basics again. The teacher was very calm and patient and happy to answer all my questions no matter how basic they were.
By the end of that 1 hour class, I was able to make the tallest bowl I had ever made, with fairly even thickness walls in a shape that I wanted. It showed me how powerful having some tuition could be – I would probably still be struggling with the same issues now if I hadn’t had the session!
Why Practice Matters
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of my trials and tribulations with throwing clay! The very next day, I came back, full of hope. My first attempt was actually quite successful and then came my next few attempts – all ended up in the bucket waiting for another chance. However, as I persevered, putting in the effort to improve – cutting open my pots to check what the sides looked like and whether they were too thick, too thin or ‘just right (sounds like a fairy tale) I started to improve.
And it reminded me that when we are learning something new, firstly, we are not expected to know everything and for it to be successful first time. Secondly, we need to put in a lot of practice and effort to improve. There is a saying that 10,000 hours of practise is needed before you become an expert. Well, I haven’t done anywhere near that but I can definitely see improvements from when I started to now.
Why Children Often Avoid Maths
For students who find maths difficult, they often try to avoid doing as much maths as possible. They are extremely anxious about maths and a repeating loop of avoiding maths, doing badly in maths leading to more avoidance and so on.
However, when the maths is at the right level for your child, taught in a way that they understand and they start to see that they can do maths, they then become really motivated and want to practise more.
Strong Foundations Make Everything Easier
When starting out with wheel throwing, one of the first skills to learn is how to centre the clay. If the clay is not centred properly, the pot becomes uneven and much harder to shape. In the same way, strong foundations make learning maths easier. Once the foundations are secure, students can focus on developing new skills and building their confidence through practice.
Many children who struggle with maths simply need more time, practice and the right support. Building confidence takes time, but small improvements can make a huge difference. I have some quick and easy 5 minute confidence boost activities available for you to do with your child – and there’s no maths worksheet in sight!
If you would like to learn more about supporting a child with dyscalculia or maths difficulties, explore the resources available on Dyscalculia Pathway.