Is it Enough for a Math Tutor to Explain Well?

Everyone loves a good explanation, especially when it comes to math. 

A clear explanation gives the student a feeling of understanding. A typical math tutor shows how to do a particular kind of math exercise, whatever is in the math homework that day, sometimes in more than one way. A good math tutor might also help the student connect the math topic of the day with a previous math topic. The student learns to mimic math procedures and when the math tutoring session is over, the student may be left with the feeling, “I can do this.” And that’s a good feeling.

What happens, though, when the student wants to recall or apply the procedure at some point in the future?

When a math tutor gives an explanation, the student receives the explanation given by the math tutor. The passive nature of receiving a math explanation results in a shallow understanding, if any, of a math concept. The tutor’s explanation is a reflection of his or her own mathematical understanding, and not necessarily of how the learner might best process the explanation. As a result, many students get a false sense of understanding math. 

It is important that math students learn to give their own math explanations. A student understands a problem when he or she can coherently say how the problem was solved and why it makes mathematical sense. Being able to simply get a correct answer is not indicative of understanding a math procedure or concept.

I like to probe my students’ thinking, even when they get a correct answer. It usually surprises them at first because they are not used to a math teacher following up after a correct answer. And it is rare that students are able to give a good math explanation that justifies their correct answers.

The process of explaining actively engages students and helps clarify one’s own mathematical understanding, so it important for all math students to practice giving mathematical explanations for their solutions.

Learning how to give mathematical explanations takes time for everyone. Sometimes it is more difficult for advanced students because they don’t have experience explaining, and they are not used to not getting a skill right away. They might give up on math or decide that math isn’t important.

La Jolla Math Learning Center has the expertise and desire to teach your child how to think and explain mathematically. Visit us online at www.ljmlc.com today!