What is the most important thing that a person needs in order to learn math?

Is it the ability to crunch numbers? Problem-solve? Find patterns? Memorize the times tables? Graphing? Solving equations?

Maybe…. PEMDAS?

Surprisingly, no. To all the above.

~~~

The most important thing needed to learn math is a PRODUCTIVE DISPOSITION.

Productive disposition refers to the tendency to see sense in mathematics, 
to perceive it as both useful and worthwhile, 
to believe that steady effort in learning mathematics pays off, 
and to see oneself as an effective learner and doer of mathematics.

Don’t know your times tables? With a productive disposition, you can learn it.

You can learn anything, and you will learn much better, and the learning will be much more enjoyable with a productive disposition.

If you can ENJOY learning, working toward solutions, solving new problems, thinking critically, and improving yourself through challenge, then you’ve already won! That’s the keys to a better tomorrow. That’s the keys to a better TODAY. With a productive disposition, life improves over time, and it also improves immediately.

~~~

So what IS a productive disposition?

I consider it in 2 parts:
1) productive attitudes
                                               and
           2) productive actions.

Productive attitudes are the mental habits. It includes curiosity and a willingness to learn.  It is also the desire to improve, to win, to reach your goals. A productive attitude makes a game out of work, and enjoys the learning.

Productive actions are behavioral habits. It includes what you DO with your time. It includes asking questions, studying mistakes, and, very importantly, practicing! It includes monitoring yourself, and taking an active role in your own learning.

The attitudes and the actions are both necessary. What’s not necessary is being a genius, or being a “math person.” Disposition comes before greatness.

“You don’t have to be a genius to have a productive disposition,
but you have to have a productive disposition to be a genius.”
-Mr. Nguyen

Two points to close out:

1. The process and experience of learning math are worth much more than the math itself.
   
2. The quality of your thinking is more important than the quality of your answer.

That’s it. Be in tune, and enjoy.