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Learning to Love Math: Teaching Strategies That Change Student Attitudes and Get Results
Is there a way to get students to love math? Dr. Judy Willis responds with an emphatic yes in this informative guide to getting better results in math class. Tapping into abundant research on how the brain works, Willis presents a practical approach for how we can improve academic results by demonstrating certain behaviors and teaching students in a way that minimizes negativity. With a straightforward and accessible style, Willis shares the knowledge and experience she has gained through her dual careers as a math teacher and a neurologist. In addition to learning basic brain anatomy and function, readers will learn how to
* Improve deep-seated negative attitudes toward math.
* Plan lessons with the goal of "achievable challenge" in mind.
* Reduce mistake anxiety with techniques such as errorless math and estimation.
* Teach to different individual learning strengths and skill levels.
* Spark motivation.
* Relate math to students' personal interests and goals.
* Support students in setting short-term and long-term goals.
* Convince students that they can change their intelligence.
With dozens of strategies teachers can use right now, Learning to Love Math puts the power of research directly into the hands of educators. A Brain Owner's Manual, which dives deeper into the structure and function of the brain, is also included—providing a clear explanation of how memories are formed and how skills are learned. With informed teachers guiding them, students will discover that they can build a better brain . . . and learn to love math!
* Improve deep-seated negative attitudes toward math.
* Plan lessons with the goal of "achievable challenge" in mind.
* Reduce mistake anxiety with techniques such as errorless math and estimation.
* Teach to different individual learning strengths and skill levels.
* Spark motivation.
* Relate math to students' personal interests and goals.
* Support students in setting short-term and long-term goals.
* Convince students that they can change their intelligence.
With dozens of strategies teachers can use right now, Learning to Love Math puts the power of research directly into the hands of educators. A Brain Owner's Manual, which dives deeper into the structure and function of the brain, is also included—providing a clear explanation of how memories are formed and how skills are learned. With informed teachers guiding them, students will discover that they can build a better brain . . . and learn to love math!
196 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2010
49 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2015
Learning to Love Math has some excellent applications for a math classroom. However, it isn't necessarily what is contained in the book that I appreciated so much, but what it made me think about. Many of the strategies Judy Willis presented were for lower level math such as elementary school and would be very difficult to extend to high school. Therefore, much of the book missed the mark for me as a prospective high school math teacher. But the information between the strategies, that was great. It was the theory, the input that Willis' neuroscientist side had to say, it was that stuff that gave me ideas and inspiration. I was able to springboard off of many of these sections and come up with my own strategies for the classroom.
It was also very insightful to read about how essential a positive, non-stressful, and relaxing atmosphere in the classroom is for learning. Students so often come into math class with a negative attitude, and even beyond that, a mindset of fear. They are prepping themselves for another year of failure, embarrassment in front of more knowledgeable classmates, and struggles with math. Or they simply are prepping themselves for a year of boredom. It is so important that I break that mindset. I have to make the math classroom an inviting place, a place where they do not have to feel afraid and they will not be bored day upon day. It was this theory that gave me ideas of things to implement in my own classroom.
For a high school math teacher, a reader for whom most of the strategies do not apply, the book will take on a different form for each reader. It will be more or less impactful on the reader depending on their mindset entering the book. If they let their minds be unrestrained, the book, I believe, will lead them come up with clever and unique strategies to use, strategies that are not explicitly stated in the book. However, if they began the book looking for established strategies, they will most likely be disappointed because as I said, many (though not all) of the strategies apply to elementary math. But I loved the book for its ability to inspire my mind to think and discover new strategies of my own. As well as the book's fundamental message to create a classroom environment where student's propensity to fear math disappears.
It was also very insightful to read about how essential a positive, non-stressful, and relaxing atmosphere in the classroom is for learning. Students so often come into math class with a negative attitude, and even beyond that, a mindset of fear. They are prepping themselves for another year of failure, embarrassment in front of more knowledgeable classmates, and struggles with math. Or they simply are prepping themselves for a year of boredom. It is so important that I break that mindset. I have to make the math classroom an inviting place, a place where they do not have to feel afraid and they will not be bored day upon day. It was this theory that gave me ideas of things to implement in my own classroom.
For a high school math teacher, a reader for whom most of the strategies do not apply, the book will take on a different form for each reader. It will be more or less impactful on the reader depending on their mindset entering the book. If they let their minds be unrestrained, the book, I believe, will lead them come up with clever and unique strategies to use, strategies that are not explicitly stated in the book. However, if they began the book looking for established strategies, they will most likely be disappointed because as I said, many (though not all) of the strategies apply to elementary math. But I loved the book for its ability to inspire my mind to think and discover new strategies of my own. As well as the book's fundamental message to create a classroom environment where student's propensity to fear math disappears.
March 27, 2016
This book is full of information and ideas for a teacher to use the next day in class. I LOVED this book! What was really nice - it reaffirms my decision to use many of the strategies in the book. I have taught how the brain works to my students so that they understand why we do what we do to learn. This book mentions the importance of teaching students how their brain works! LOVE IT!
Many activities were given throughout the book that a teacher could use regularly.
This is a must for all math teachers - elementary, middle or high school!
Many activities were given throughout the book that a teacher could use regularly.
This is a must for all math teachers - elementary, middle or high school!
January 22, 2015
This has some great teaching strategies in it, including teaching students about the brain. She also explains the brain's workings throughout the book so teachers can make math more pleasurable, thus, learning more! Great read!
July 15, 2011
Another informative book from Judy WIllis, a former neuroscientist turned educator. Many of her ideas are applicable to a variety of situations and grade levels.
October 17, 2021
It's just hard to love Math. In her book, Learning to Love Math, Judy Willis shows that, with the right mindset and teaching strategies, it's not hard to love this subject.
Needless to say, the brain is the organ that we use in learning. Understanding how it works helps students open their eyes to their learning needs, strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to improve their performances. In addition to the "Gray Matter" sections that talk about brain functions, Willis also offered the Brain Owner's Manual that teachers and parents can use as a reference in discussing the three main components of the brain responsible for absorbing and processing information.
To support students through the learning process, Willis shared loads of strategies to help students change their attitudes towards Math, accomplish challenges, reduce mistake anxiety, increase motivation, and apply Math in real-world situations. It must be noted, though, that the strategies are garnered from Judy Willis' experience as an elementary and middle school teacher. Nevertheless, both elementary and high school students can still find the information in this book helpful.
Our brain has the ability to change, adapt, and modify. It takes time, though, but with motivation and practice, we can develop positive attitudes towards things that we find difficult such as Math. I recommend Learning to Love Math to teachers and parents who want to help their kids love Math.
Needless to say, the brain is the organ that we use in learning. Understanding how it works helps students open their eyes to their learning needs, strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to improve their performances. In addition to the "Gray Matter" sections that talk about brain functions, Willis also offered the Brain Owner's Manual that teachers and parents can use as a reference in discussing the three main components of the brain responsible for absorbing and processing information.
To support students through the learning process, Willis shared loads of strategies to help students change their attitudes towards Math, accomplish challenges, reduce mistake anxiety, increase motivation, and apply Math in real-world situations. It must be noted, though, that the strategies are garnered from Judy Willis' experience as an elementary and middle school teacher. Nevertheless, both elementary and high school students can still find the information in this book helpful.
Our brain has the ability to change, adapt, and modify. It takes time, though, but with motivation and practice, we can develop positive attitudes towards things that we find difficult such as Math. I recommend Learning to Love Math to teachers and parents who want to help their kids love Math.
January 5, 2018
The strategies presented in this book would probably much more applicable for teachers of elementary or middle school math. I was hoping for concepts I could transfer to my high school classroom, but I found them to be generally along the expected lines of: use a variety of delivery methods, provide novel experiences, and reduce math anxiety by encouraging and supporting each student where they are.
Willis did provide accompanying brain research for each chapter and concept, which is interesting and a good basis for her recommendations.
Willis did provide accompanying brain research for each chapter and concept, which is interesting and a good basis for her recommendations.
October 30, 2018
Well, how I wish my teachers back then could make the lesson as interesting as suggested in this book. Nevertheless, I have gained some knowledge by reading this books. Although, majorities are quite applicable to young learners, such as elementary students. There are also some sections that give examples of interesting activities for teenagers.
July 20, 2019
Interesting connection to the brain and learning mathematics. More geared to middle school learners than than high schoolers. I did however, pick up a few practical techniques to incorporate into my classroom.
August 10, 2024
It was just okay. There were a few interesting things that I highlighted, but there wasn’t a lot of new information (for a veteran teacher). I also think it would be overwhelming for a new teacher, so I’m not sure where this book fits in.
There were also a few recommendations in this book that go against the CRA approach (memorization tricks) that I disagreed with.
There were also a few recommendations in this book that go against the CRA approach (memorization tricks) that I disagreed with.
August 31, 2024
I really liked how the book included the brain development behind learning that's always fascinated me. I do wish it included more. It was nice to see the strategies I use in the classroom and know why they are effective.
June 28, 2025
I read this for other reasons - as I thought it would help me teach to love other subjects - not just maths - and it did not disappoint! Full of examples and stories and really will change your attitude!
December 31, 2021
Great read and easy, but not pedantic
December 13, 2022
it is a very interesting maths book, it explain it very well.
August 4, 2024
At parent orientation, I need to start the year by talking more about math attitudes shown at home because there are far too many adults who have no problem with stating that they struggled with math so a child struggling with it can be expected. There are definitely some good strategies in this book for helping students (and the adults in their lives--including their teachers) to have better attitudes toward math through the way it is thought about and the way math is practiced in the classroom. The brain research and terminology in the book are written about in a way that, with some tweaking in places, I can share more about these with my students to help them see how their effort translates into learning in any subject.
May 28, 2012
This book was boring and not readable.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews