Some students struggle in math in general. They find it difficult to understand the materials in most math courses. However, more students seem to struggle in Geometry than in any other math course. The reason is that Geometry is fundamentally different from most other math courses.
Geometry is very different from Algebra I and Algebra II. For example, Geometry often requires students to visualize abstract objects. Therefore, students who are not visual learners have difficulty mastering some geometry concepts. For most students it is much easier to visualize a line than a polyhedron.
Another reason students often struggle in Geometry is because Algebra courses often don’t focus as much on testing and reasoning as Geometry courses do. In many schools, students are first introduced to the ideas of axioms and postulates in geometry courses. Algebra courses often rely primarily on basic equation solving and memorization strategies rather than test formulations. Students already struggling with other geometry topics feel an additional burden trying to deduce these proofs.
Often, geometry is taught in just one year, while algebra is taught in two years. Therefore, geometry courses often have to teach many diverse subjects in a short period of time.
One solution to help students better understand geometry is to combine geometry and algebra courses. This would allow students more time to think about geometric concepts and learn some useful algebraic geometry techniques. Another solution is to have a professional geometry tutor who works with the student throughout the year.
