When a student excels in math class, the positive effects can often transcend the math classroom. While math is a very unique class, and many people may think that being good at math will not help with other subjects or after-school activities, that is far from the truth.
From the early days of elementary school, where students learn about basic math concepts, shapes, and other topics, to when they sit for their SAT and compete in math competitions having mastered complex topics including advanced algebra and trigonometry, math students are constantly adding to their repertoire of math abilities. On top of this, these skills that are developed throughout years of math classes can, indeed, help students boost their performance in other subjects, as well as positively impact their extra-curricular activities and social relationships.
Performing well in any school subject will give students a timely boost to self-confidence, and math is no different. Math is one of the most challenging subjects in school, and successfully completing complex math problems can give students a well-deserved sense of accomplishment. This confidence – like any boosted confidence – can spill out into other situations, granting students a newfound desire to explore new subjects and activities, and develop a positive attitude and mindset.
Organization & systemic approach
Of all the subjects that students will encounter, math requires a particular approach that is not always present in other subjects. However, these methods of answering math problems can often be applied to other subjects.
In math class, students follow specific step-by-step instructions on how to answer different questions, whether they are quadratic equations, or they’ve been asked to find the radius of a circle.
No matter the problem, the attention to detail taken by math students is highly valuable. The same step-by-step approach can be used to improve in other subjects that require some level of organization and are structure-heavy, such as language subjects and foreign languages.
The repetitive nature of math problems – where students will often practice the same question over and over with slightly different figures involved – can be applied to extracurricular activities, too, such as sports and music, where students need to practice extensively to see improvement.
Problem-solving & critical thinking
Next on the list of benefits of excelling in math class, and perhaps the most famous, is the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that good math students develop during their school years.
Math is all about solving problems, but it is not the only subject like this. Therefore, students can utilize the skills they’ve gained and apply them to other problem-solving subjects. Science, literature, and history are just three examples.
For a more concise example, we can consider a language class, where students have to read a novel. The students with advanced math skills will be able to use their problem-solving and critical thinking skills to analyze characters and plot points, and draw their own conclusions about the novel being read.
The ability to think critically is also important to note here. Students that can evaluate evidence and make logical arguments based on their analysis of the evidence are positioned brilliantly to thrive in subjects that frequently require critical thinking. Some examples are social studies, law, and philosophy, but these subjects will impact students more in their later high school years and as they move into college and the working world.
After school and working life
On the note of college and beyond, math skills are particularly valuable for everyone as they enter adulthood and prepare for a life in the working world. Not only will everyone have to use their math skills throughout their life when shopping, doing their taxes, and conducting financial transactions, the skills go much further.
The critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills developed are often cited as vital components of certain job roles. This means that good math students can open themselves up to a wide variety of job prospects, even beyond jobs in math, science, engineering, and data analysis. Furthermore, professionals in other industries, such as medicine, healthcare, and business use math most, if not all, days on the job.
All of these facts combine to demonstrate just how valuable good math skills can be, and how much of a competitive advantage you can gain in the job market with good math abilities.
At Online Math Center
No matter your child’s current level of math, we have got the tools to help boost their level. We offer courses from all levels and ages, from middle school to high school, and we also pride ourselves on our one-to-one lessons, some of which focus specifically on SAT preparation and math competitions.
Contact OMC now and enroll your child in a course to help boost their math skills and gain all the other benefits we’ve spoken about in this piece.
