Have you ever gotten home from school, started doing your math homework, and ended up just staring at the problems, re-reading them over and over again, hoping they’d somehow start making sense? Instead, you just sit there, completely stuck; not knowing where to start, what to do, or even how to ask for help. If that sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. Math can be tough, but no matter how challenging it may seem, support is always within reach. I spoke with a few math teachers at Apex High to get their best advice for students who are struggling or simply want to improve. Here’s what they had to say.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
One thing that every teacher agreed on is the importance of asking for help. “Try your best, and if anything, come and ask for help,” said Mr. Gresch. “We’re humans too, so come ask for help, and we will show you the steps.” Mrs. Conner reminds students not to hesitate to ask questions or seek help, “Go back through your notes, make sure you ask for help when you need it, and it helps to talk to other students too.” Mrs. Orr encourages students to reach out, “I always tell students they can come talk to me before school or during lunch, and I’ll help them,” she said. “They just have to let me know ahead of time.” Whether it’s asking questions during class, staying a few minutes after, or showing up to tutoring, every bit counts. As Mr. Gresch put it, “Come to tutoring, before or after school. Whatever it takes. If you’re struggling, see your teacher.”

Practice, Practice, Practice
Math isn’t something you memorize; in fact, it’s something that requires practice. That’s why all teachers stressed the importance of active practice. “When teachers used to assign evens, I’d go back and do the odds too,” said Mrs. Conner. “They had the answers in the back of the book, and it helped me figure out where I went wrong.” Mr. Gresch compared it to playing a sport, “You get better by practicing. Find time in the day to do an extra ten minutes of math, and you’ll improve tremendously.” Mrs. Orr added that students shouldn’t just look at problems. Instead, they should work them out. “That’s the only way to know if you really understand what you’re doing.”

Make Your Review Count
If an assessment is coming up, don’t just skim your notes. You have to actually go back and work through what you’ve learned. Mrs. Neff emphasized reviewing old mistakes. “Go back through quizzes or homework you missed and ask yourself, why did I do that? Understanding your mistakes is key.” Similarly, Mrs. Conner stressed the importance of understanding the reasoning behind the steps: “Don’t just focus on the numbers; you should think about where they came from and why the steps work.” “Treat your review like it’s the real test,” said Mr. Gresch. “Even if you don’t have a review sheet, try pulling problems from your notes, homework, or textbook, and work through them like it’s test day. The more you practice with that mindset, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time for the real thing.”

Can’t Make It to Tutoring? Use Online Resources
There could be times when you need extra help outside of class, but tutoring doesn’t always fit into your schedule. That’s where online resources can make a huge difference. Mrs. Neff recommends DeltaMath, a platform commonly used by math teachers at Apex. “It’s probably the quickest and easiest,” she says, especially for reviewing problems you’ve already seen. Mrs. Conner, Mrs. Orr, and Mr. Gresch all suggest Khan Academy for its free videos and practice problems. For students in AP classes, Mrs. Conner recommends AP Classroom, a platform with free videos and practice tailored specifically for AP students. And if you’re ever stuck on a concept, Mr. Gresch says, “Search it up. There are tons of step-by-step explanations online. Even a quick Google search can help you figure out what to do.” So if you ever find yourself rereading the same math problem over and over again, remember that you don’t have to figure it out alone. As Mrs. Neff said, “If you are finding yourself struggling, see your math teacher. That’s the biggest thing.”