Do you think of yourself as a math person or do your palms start to sweat at the mere phrase “algebraic proof”? Though many people assume that math ability is something you either have or you don’t, research indicates that the idea of a “math person” is a myth. In a recent article for The Hechinger Report, high school math teacher, Mark Bauer, says, “We don’t have a math problem in America, we have a culture problem — and it can be fixed one math problem and one mindset at a time.”

Stanislas Dehaene, author of the book, How We Learn, refutes the notion that some brains are uniquely “wired” for math. He writes that we all have “the same initial brain structure, the same core knowledge, and the same learning algorithms” for reading, science and math and that all people can learn to do math.  

This is not to say that math is easy. If students don’t do the work or connect with teachers to help build the skills they need, they may struggle and internalize their challenges, telling themselves they are not “math people.”

And this is where the crucial concept of “mindset" comes in.  Some people have what Stanford professor Carol Dweck refers to as a “fixed mindset,” the belief that intelligence or talent is set in stone. When they fail, they see it as proof that they lack ability and they often avoid challenges or give up easily. Others have a “growth mindset,” or a belief that intelligence and ability can develop through effort, feedback and learning. They view mistakes as part of the process and challenges as opportunities to improve. 

Interestingly, many students approach video games with a growth mindset — they don’t know what they’re getting into, but they try their best and if they fail, they know more and try again. This is the mindset with which successful math students approach math!

As parents, we can help our children develop and maintain a growth mindset by sharing stories of the challenges we faced in school and how we worked through them to find solutions. We can teach our children about behaviors that support learning and growth, such as investing time in their work and engaging with teachers and tutors to better understand math concepts. And we can point out to our children the many ways in which they already use math to solve problems in their daily lives, reminding them that math, like problem-solving, is a learned skill that they are fully capable of mastering.  

It’s estimated that the American workforce will need over a million employees to fill STEM-related jobs by 2030. In the shining light of the growth mindset, it’s time for us to believe in every student’s math potential and convey this message to children, so they are motivated and equipped to step up to the plate and successfully tackle math! 

Go team, go!