Monday, October 20, 2014

Math Brain vs English Brain

by Julie Homenuik

As an English major and teacher, I hear a lot of negativity about mathematics: “We’re English teachers—we can’t/don’t do math.” “Math can stay over there.” “Ugh. Math.” “You like math?” “I’m good at English, but not math.” To which I say, “Really?” I don’t believe that math and English are as disparate as some people make them out to be. So, with only a slight confirmation bias, I went to the internet to prove my claim that math and English are not opposing ends of a subject-spectrum.

One observation I have made in my teaching career is that students that do very well in English usually also do very well in math. Actually, the grades that students get in English are usually very similar to their math grades, even when they tell me that they are very good in English, but not very good at math (which in itself is an interesting perception). For this blog post, I wanted some objective evidence to validate my observations, and I found one interesting infographic based on SAT statistics that suggests that math and verbal scores on the SAT are comparable. According to the stats presented here, very few students had completely divergent scores in math and language.



The idea that math skills and English skills are divergent seems to relate to the Left Brain/Right Brain myth. People fall back on the right brain/left brain theory as if we simply work with one side of our brain when tackling certain subject areas. And then, to add insult to injury, some decide that math is associated with left brain thinking and language arts with right brain thinking. It’s absurd to think that math does not incorporate creativity or English class does not endorse logical, analytical thinking.  Luckily, the right brain/left brain theory is simply a myth that we simply like to believe because it lets us easily categorize our skills (and sometimes, I think, excuse our perceived weaknesses).



I actually see math and English as having a fair bit in common. Math is a language after all. In both math and writing, we abide by rules, order, structures, and symbols. We must interpret and analyse the information in front of us. We use numbers, rhythms, and patterns in writing just as we look for in mathematics. The skills we use in both subject areas are not divergent, but rather interconnected. For another perspective on this, I direct you to an article by Melanie Carbine, “Math and English: More in Common than Different”. She too notes the connection between math and English language.

Probably the best piece of information I came across is that having a strong English teacher actually makes students stronger in mathematics. Stanford researchers determined that “students of good language arts teachers had higher than expected math scores in subsequent years” (“Stanford research shows long-run benefit of English instruction”). I would think, then, that being strong in English also leads to stronger skills in mathematics—which can also be seen in the SAT stats as well since so few students who scored well in verbal did poorly in math. Therefore, with regards to all my English major math-naysayers who claim they are math-impaired, I say they are actually well-equipped to tackle mathematics (so stop dissing it!)

14 comments:

  1. Very interesting. I am a science teacher and enjoy reading about brain research and how this relates to education and student learning. You have posted some great links and resources. I enjoyed reading them. They have given me much to think about. Thanks.

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  2. Okay, so (5+154)/1500000... could you put that in words for us? Perhaps those English teachers would be better at math if they didn't have negative mindsets, haha!

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  3. I have met many individuals who claim that they are naturally better at one than the other. They even have proof, a long history of better performances in the subject they think they are better in. I do not completely disagree with them, because there are people who are naturally more gifted in certain areas. However, like you said, this idea can create "perceived weakness" and can sometimes become an excuse. The idea that English and Math are the opposites of each other can be even more dangerous. It makes students think it's impossible to excel at both. I also find many similarities between English and Math. For example, writing an essay is a very logical and analytical process. Just like doing a math proof, it needs to be done step by step, and backed up by evidence.

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  4. Isn't vastly divergent performance in language vs math the very diagnoses of "learning disabilities"?

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  6. sorry to prove you wrong but my maths results were a fail every time while i received A+ for english.
    I still struggle with maths to this day.
    I don't believe differences are a learning disability difference isnt a disability, no two people are exactly the same so why would their brains work the same ..
    just because something is different from what some consider "normal" doesnt make it disabled...
    some peoples brains manage academia very well while struggling with hands on tasks other peoples brains struggle with academia whilst excelling at towards hand on
    tasks , our brains don't have to work the same we don't all have to be able to do the same things.

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  7. Not true at all. I got 100 for the year in honors math and 90 for the year in regular CP english. WTF

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    Replies
    1. The people in my math class who can't solve the seemingly simplist problems do better than me in English.

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    2. The Article might state "While less intelligence tend to struggle with both" it depends this article doesn't provide reality helpful information or to really help people : scientifically solution is to provide new way of leaning.From region Asian or Islamic provies and are seriously focus on education and it seem to The Germain wanted, to help if reality wanted to help people: IQ intelligence. Asian are base wanted child be smart highly and so courageous they are just,focus and concentrate while like USA parents seem just wanted to make their child happy.Knowing how brain function and grow can teach us to rather scare either to think imaginate don't not.I will provide you as much i knows but take it seriously and Knows that English especially language Vs Math is the original and true for you to grow power or potential power it's basic of it. scientifically and facts for learning helpful informations.(Except: An individuals never go to school and start leaning if don't wants to really study not those goes to school) Mostly remarked and Asian and both islamic provide,germain seem also provide a lot helpful for their education and research they provide all reality in information whatever are for people.I hot you understand me and start emphasis my information.Individuals wanted to really learn nor because they "struggle with both or less intelligence" but because resources provided need to be really helpful help are for people,resources material and new way of learning.Money for they this is how they could improve to rate change a little bit the focus to more mostly research on.I will provide you as much i knows to help and knows that no matter what ? and attention any information not helpful even if scientifically even if that's scientifically provide informations especially fakes news,.Facts are the best and helpful information with resources and material gathered ,...

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    3. English Vs Math :

      Read a lot book the most if you fail in math extremely only if you can't and people or teachers can't overcome with help to you by only speed reading and learn more from speed readings emphasis some helpful information from several way to speed read if important and helpful takes an hour on it everyday or every week and set timer while reading and care. here some link (just) from youtube _*(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q0we4LjSws&list=WL&index=109) ,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKYmwD_weE8),(https://youtu.be/sZMoAwrjdck),(https://youtu.be/G1_Yfff6CSI),(https://youtu.be/8eZOVPA9KR), last may be you can train yourself on maybe (https://youtu.be/0Q0we4LjSws).and don't put all your believe in someone no matter what base on good and reflect every single knowledge as where are you ? taking them from and must have evidence or some struggle from it that show also that the mind is functioning always normally and it's important..


      If you feel some changes happening in the brain or remark you must do alot reading,language english,language only and both do the same together English and math but know that anyway language is the first especially while reading the mind can and becomes potential power you well see do both English and math and do not play with it either leaning or education even great lies and whatever advice or information saying by people don't let people takes you down even if provides helpful information don't put your whole believe in that no matter what and calculate any information from the mind while learning.and Knows those who knows have learn how brain functions are serious with this.Follow the conditions of speed reading.

      No fiction books leanings avoids,Don't think and stop thinking struggle Thinking avoid ! If not it will reduce intelligence to your mind like a unimaginable people living like that unbelievable ,reduced intelligence and Physical intelligence are both common and Emotional .Reduced Intelligence happens everyday. to mostly avoid it stop doing what you believe is wrong and do goods if you are serious,train yourself maybe you should do less fancies and avoid it,because it also reduce intelligence if much and risk thinking.

      Study , do the your assignments and new learnings. Start studying a lot like new individual start studying with what is actual first and do exercise of them and finish / Study at also 5:00 in morning earlier focus and revise do it everyday except i.e..

      Read Dictionary like speed Reading takes your time in journey also at morning 5:00 a lot word like 3 to more page as much you can do alot efforts you will see the best scientifically ever provide for brain mind.

      Do a lot math and don't accept struggling it the mind and stop thinking anything negatively and negatively math avoid even saying.

      Follow taks and do timers, knows that everything every facts i'm saying makes basic of it and scientifically to human because studying and knowing how brain functions.

      I don't like to waste my time explain on medias also don't have time for explain scientifically this why is not so organise or anything but you have to emphasis from it don't your mind best, growing potentially like an father or sufficiently an person and knows that thinking is not memorisation,it reduce intelligence both and program the mind will thinking to do negative this is why thinking is evil even if it help a lot this new way of leanings and more of all the time i don't keep it secretly even if i'm succeeding in or a promise.
































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  8. Also don't forget when you reading books don't underline all idea's,Also don't go back except finish some page so can go back to understand but is not really good so just go faster as much even if you can't read all word from every single paragraph and watch the essential video's i have published you have chance.

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  10. I thinks The publisher of this article : Ms.Julie Homenuik, it was fine with idea English-Math also the same idea i was after doing researching of specific purpose's.and Thanks

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