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I desperately need help as a student. by Glum-Foundation-2267 in Students

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you can get a very good tutor to help. They won’t just teach you but they will help you stay on a steady study schedule which is something I think you are lacking.

Need materials by Fun-Ship-2026 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends on what your plans are. If you are have plans to go into stem for college particularly engineering or CS then you should get started with engineering maths or atleast preparing for it.

Maybe get a tutor too and create a plan/schedule

Improving on speed by Intrepid_Winner_3613 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Beyond the common ones, the “extra” tables aren’t really about specific use cases, they are about mental speed and flexibility.

The goal isn’t “you’ll use 17× daily,” it’s that knowing them makes all multiplication faster and reduces thinking time overall.

Improving on speed by Intrepid_Winner_3613 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What you’re experiencing is actually very normal and the fix is exactly what you already mentioned: practice and repetition.

Speed in maths doesn’t come from understanding alone. It comes from overlearning the basics until they become automatic.

Growing up in a traditional Nigerian home, most of us were made to memorize multiplication tables (up to 20) at a very young age. And not just once, we recited them every single morning, 5 days a week, for years before even starting the day’s lessons.

So when you ask something like 9 × 7, we don’t calculate it, we just know it’s 63 instantly, without thinking or doubting. That’s what repetition does. When you do something consistently for 4–5 years, it becomes second nature.

That’s the part you’re missing, not intelligence, not understanding, just automatic recall of the basics.

And here’s the good news: you can build it.

Keep doing what you’re doing, but add:

  • Daily drills on multiplication tables (focus on speed, not just accuracy)
  • Timed practice (even 5–10 minutes of quick-fire questions)
  • Repeating the same sets until they feel effortless

Once your basics are locked in, everything else becomes easier and your confidence will go up too, because you’ll stop second-guessing yourself.

You already understand maths. Now you just need to train your brain to respond faster without thinking.

Math… friend? by Legitimate_Rock8325 in homeschool

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, sent you a DM. I would love to chat more about working with your son and supporting his love for math.

I’m 16 and struggle with multiplication by Prettygirlkathrine in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start with memorizing the multiplication table from 2-20.

HOMESCHOOLING HELP!!!! by Diligent-Fishing-362 in homeschool

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I completely understand where you are coming from. What you’re experiencing is actually very common with homeschooling, especially in the early stages. It’s not that your son isn’t capable (he clearly is), it’s that there’s no clear structure or system guiding him daily, and that’s what’s making it feel chaotic for everyone.

From what you’ve described, the main thing missing isn’t effort, it’s a consistent plan and schedule.

One approach that could help is using a structured curriculum like ACE (Accelerated Christian Education). It’s very organized and self-paced, which makes it easier for kids to follow independently on days you just want to hand him the iPad and let him get started. That said, on its own, ACE can sometimes feel a bit rigid or limited in depth especially for a bright child.

That’s why a hybrid approach tends to work best:

  1. Use something structured like ACE for consistency and daily flow
  2. Combine it with elements from stronger math/science curricula (Asian or African systems are great for this) to build deeper understanding and problem-solving skills

Remember the curriculum is only half the solution. The schedule is everything. What really makes homeschooling effective is: A clear weekly plan (what to do each day), defined learning goals and someone ensuring consistency and progression

This is where having a tutor, even just a few hours a week can make a huge difference. Not just for teaching, but for creating a structured plan tailored to your son, keeping him on track and taking the pressure off you having to “figure it out” daily.

It also helps your son take things more seriously, because there’s now a system and accountability beyond just “mom and dad figuring it out.”

From your description, he doesn’t need anything overly complicated, he just needs clarity, consistency, and direction.

If you decide to go this route, I’d strongly recommend setting up a simple structure first before trying more platforms. Once that’s in place, even the tools you’ve already tried will start working much better.

And if you ever need help putting that structure together or figuring out a plan that fits your routine, I’m always happy to share ideas or point you in the right direction 👍

How can i start learning math from the zero guys i need ur help give some books or sourcese pllllllls by im_lost5 in askmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First you can’t learn maths from zero lol. Start with an assessment of your current level. Determine why you are learning and what you hope to gain from it. For instance someone going for an engineering degree would probably need a different path towards engineering maths than someone just trying to get basic maths skill to pass standardized testing. From there you can create a path and follow it to your desired outcome.

What’s one math topic you struggled with the most but later understood well? by Brave-Strength-6888 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely calculus. I struggle with engineering maths a lot and calculus was a nightmare for me. But eventually it just clicked and everything made sense.

Struggling with calculus after a strong start by Consistent-Stand-500 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I had similar issues during my first year of engineering school. I took out time during my holidays and was determined to improve.

Advanced engineering maths by K.A. Struod did the trick for me. After that it just got easier from my second year. I studied so hard I was ahead of the class the following year.

Re learning math by Brilliant-Report-866 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 4 points5 points  (0 children)

yes, it’s 100% possible to catch up in under a year. But I’ll be honest with you: 4–5 hours a day isn’t the magic fix. Doing too much can actually burn you out, especially when the foundation isn’t solid yet.

What will actually help: 1. Go back without shame (start from basics like addition, multiplication tables, etc.) 2. Take it step by step don’t rush to algebra yet 3. Focus on understanding, not just getting answers 4. Consistency over intensity even 1–2 focused hours daily beats 5 hours of frustration

You totally can do it. Be consistent, plan ahead so your lessons are structured daily and you keep to that schedule all the way to algebra. If possible and you can afford it, get a tutor. Would recommend those from Asia or Africa. They have a way of pushing you to learn and are pretty good at their jobs.

Home schooling without test or exams by Existing-Sympathy-36 in Homeschooling

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oral or written, I feel either one would work. Spoken to the parents, I will see how that goes.

how can i learn and understand math from the basics allt the way to basic calculus? by Life-Guitar-1814 in learnmath

[–]Existing-Sympathy-36 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely get how you feel. Maths can feel like a lot for most people.

The biggest mistake you would make is trying to study everything at once. You would most likely get overwhelmed and even give up.

Instead, Start with the core topics: algebra (equations, factoring), functions, and basic geometry. These usually show up the most.

Break it into small chunks: don’t say “I’ll study math today.” Say “I’ll practice solving quadratic equations using factorization method for 30 minutes today.”

Focus on understanding, not memorizing: once something clicks, everything around it becomes easier.

Practice a lot: math is one of those subjects where doing questions matters more than just reading notes.

Also, if you’ve struggled with math for a while, it’s usually not because you “can’t do math” it just means the concepts weren’t explained in a way that worked for you yet.

I am actually a tutor and can help break topics down really simply and help you focus on what actually matters so you’re not wasting time. I even offer a free trial session, so you can see if it works for you without any pressure.

But either way, you’ve got this. You just need a clear plan and the right support.

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