How to motivate teenage girl to enjoy and understand math?

I posted a similar question and was delighted the Yahoo community came through with suggestions. However, none of those websites or resources have proven helpful.





My friend's teen daughter has a MAJOR psychological problem with Math. She has a solid A or A+ grade in English and science, is a prodigious reader and writes well too, but she gets hysterical when we talk about math. She is failing, ONLY in Math.





Is it her schooling? Is it the method of teaching? Why can't she get simple math concepts? Has she been psychologically conditioned to believe that girls don鈥檛 do math?





Her parents are willing to do anything, buy anything, pay for private tutoring, spend time with her. But she reacts with absolute terror when the subject comes up. Why? Has anyone else encountered this and successfully solved the problem?





Yahoo! We need an answer! Help! We need advice from math tutors, teachers, or experienced parents who have successfully countered this issue!





Please help!How to motivate teenage girl to enjoy and understand math?
You didn't mention when this fear started. It doesn't really matter with my answer, though. First of all, it's not uncommon for people who are good at one thing to be not as good in another. You didn't mention what level she's at. If she's in highschool, I presume she's in at least Algebra? This means she's had some success in math in the past.





I would approach it, since you said it's a fear issue, in a way to demonstrate that she IS doing math. She is probably doing simple pre-algebra math all the time. For example, she knows she has 2 hours before bed and she has 22 minutes of her favorite TV show left to watch. She has a test to study for before she goes to bed. To find out how much time she has to study, she will do this in her head (she already does!) 2hours times 60 minutes per hour minus 22minutes left of TV program equals how much time she will have to study. Let her set up the equation. (2x60) - 22 = Y (time to study in minutes.) Show her how to change the terms around. (2x60) - Y = 22. This is one example. Since I don't know what course she is taking, I don't know if this is appropriate or not. Other things she does commonly involving math is figuring how much time she has left on her cell phone. Measuring, when following recipes. Balancing her debit account if she has one. Scheduling time. Shopping within a budget, etc. Use your imagination.





I have found this dispells fear when the wind is taken out of its sails by this method of showing she IS doing math and has indeed been successful at it!





Then use appropriate praise when she starts to understand. Don't overdo it. Say specifically what she did right. For example. ';You set that problem just right! I can see you're starting to understand this.'; Use words that fit the instance.





She sounds like a smart girl. Once she starts to understand, the enjoyment will most likely follow.How to motivate teenage girl to enjoy and understand math?
Hey..maybe she is just not a mathematical mind?I know something about it, I always hated math and had the A's from other subjects..in future she may be an artist, you know humanists hate math and it's the matter of nature. No one can change that.





If this is not the case then..well there shouldn't be such issue. I think this is the case..





Maths isn't so important. Just to get the lowest passing grade and do what's in your heart. That's what I did and I'm happy and succesful - and I never stopped hating math.





waving at ya!