"Is prerequisite math essential? You can get a top grade in math with proper study, without private tutoring!"
A roadmap for elementary, middle, and high school math studies, presented clearly and concisely by a high school math teacher with 21 years of experience.
Reflecting the latest data and educational policies for 2025, Professor Park Man-gu of the Department of Mathematics Education at Seoul National University of Education strongly recommends this.

Many students struggle with math and find it difficult.
So, everyone is interested in how to be good at math and tries to find it, but it is also true that unproven stories float around like ghosts.
What is needed at this time is an accurate analysis of the cause and the right measures, and above all, parents must have a clear philosophy about their children's math education.
The author of this book is a current high school math teacher who has experience in preparing various exam questions and writing textbooks, as well as the know-how he has gained from guiding numerous students through entrance exams. Based on this, he introduces in detail how to study for each stage of elementary, middle, and high school to acquire the best math skills.
It also provides detailed study goals and study methods for each period and level, as well as tips for getting a perfect score in math.
Furthermore, he emphasizes that the most important thing in studying mathematics is to develop mathematical thinking skills, and that it is essential to consider how to apply and expand upon these concepts rather than simply understanding them through excessive prior knowledge.
Parents are also advised to first try to develop their child's learning attitude before creating a study plan for their child.
"How to Get a Grade 1 in Math Without Private Tutoring," taught by a current high school math teacher, will serve as a solid guide for parents and students who feel anxious and frustrated in the confusing reality of college entrance exams.

The areas you need to focus on to do well in math are different in elementary, middle, and high school.
However, without considering this, everyone runs towards only the goal of progressing through the grades or solving workbooks from elementary school.
In the process, the child develops an aversion to math from an early age without properly building the foundation of math that he or she needs to learn.
In fact, as the years go by, the number of students at the bottom of their class in middle and high school who give up on math is increasing.
Through this book, I wanted to talk about how to really study mathematics.
We presented the goals for studying mathematics in each period of elementary, middle, and high school, and explained step-by-step methods for building a solid foundation in mathematics in elementary school, developing mathematical thinking skills in middle school, and achieving both the CSAT and school grades with unwavering, top-tier mathematics study in high school.
--- pp.5-6, from "Prologue"

Kids these days don't know how to study properly.
And I want to study comfortably.
First, it is important to know how to study properly.
Please review the review method we discussed earlier with your child once again.
Of course, the content you are reviewing is the part you are lacking in, so it is natural that you do not want to study it, it is difficult, and just looking at it can be annoying.
But the process of overcoming that 'hardship' and 'difficulty' is studying.
It's not that I can't do it because I'm stupid, it's that I can't do it because I'm too comfortable.
You must know that studying properly is only possible when it is difficult and uncomfortable.
--- p.20, from “Children’s Math Study Today”

In fact, polarization in today's classrooms is more severe than before.
Top students all come to school having done advance study and think they know all the content of the textbook-based classes, so they don't pay much attention to school classes.
On the other hand, students at the bottom of the class have no interest in math and show no will to study, saying they have already given up.
Although the class is said to be aimed at middle-level students, the number of middle-level students in the classroom is actually decreasing.
This is because even the middle-ranking students are losing confidence and giving up on math, and are gradually falling into the lower ranks.
Most middle-ranking students who studied under pressure from their parents or teachers in elementary school have not yet developed the habit of studying on their own.
It can be seen that these children are dropping out of school because they cannot withstand the study environment that has become more difficult than before after middle school.

--- p.24, from “Children who are good at math but lack confidence”

Children who study happily have, above all, excellent concentration and self-directed learning abilities.
Self-directed learning skills—aren't they exactly the skills I want my child to possess? In education, "immersion" is considered a crucial element for this self-directed learning ability.
Flow is a state of intense concentration and 'pleasant' psychological state in which one is deeply absorbed in something.
In other words, if you are immersed in your studies while having fun and being happy, you will study so intently that you won't even notice the passage of time, and you will feel satisfaction and joy in the process.
And immersion naturally leads to higher levels of immersion, which in turn leads to increased achievement.
Ultimately, the happiness of studying can be felt through immersion.

--- p.29, from “The Influence of Positive Emotions on Mathematics Study”

There is a term called 'math anxiety'.
Math anxiety is an educational psychology term that refers to the aversion to solving math problems or negative feelings about math in everyday life.
This math anxiety, regardless of actual math ability, lowers students' motivation to learn math, making it difficult to focus on their studies and ultimately lowering their math achievement.
So when does math anxiety manifest? A University of Chicago research team studied the brains of students with math anxiety. They found that when they knew they were about to study math or take a test, the brain regions responsible for anxiety and pain were activated.
In other words, children who struggle with math will experience increased math anxiety just by thinking that they will soon be studying math.

--- p.34, from “Is my child also anxious about math?”

Some students say that it's not that they 'don't' study, but rather that they 'can't' study even if they try hard because they lack talent.
But saying that you can't do math because you're stupid or don't have a math brain is just self-justification.
You must know that this is a 'bad conclusion' that comes from an attitude of 'eating it raw'.
Students who are good at math have endured and persevered through difficult times to reach their current position.
Thinking that you need talent to be good at math ignores their efforts and belittles them by saying that they are good at math simply because they have an innate talent for it.
Some say that even a good learning attitude is innate, but a good learning attitude is also cultivated through a process of consistent perseverance.
Attributing someone else's math skills and learning style to innate ability is simply an excuse to cover up your own lack of effort.
It would be best for parents to stop saying and thinking like this.
When children hear their parents say things like this, they end up thinking that they are bad at math because they don't have a math brain.
You can never progress with this kind of thinking.
Ultimately, this leads to a shortcut to giving up on math.
--- pp.54-55, from “Correlation between Mathematical Intelligence and Mathematical Achievement”

Everyone wants their child to study on their own from the beginning, but the road to that point is long and arduous.
So, we need a coach to help us practice persevering and overcoming when our children are having a hard time.
A boxing coach doesn't just talk during training.
I keep watching and focusing, finding and correcting areas where they are lacking, moving together, and cheering them on to give them strength.
When I can't follow along well, I probably feel frustrated and tired.
But since the coach continues to do that role, I am growing little by little as I do it.
Parents should also help their children like a boxing coach.
If you observe your child carefully, understand their condition, and encourage them whenever they are having a hard time, you can ultimately help them achieve their goals.
Naturally, your child's studies will expand their horizons and their skills will improve.

--- pp.88-89, from “The First Step to Helping Your Child Study Math”

Confidence in studying is built up through 'successful experiences' that have accumulated little by little over time.
That's why it's important for children to know that they have succeeded.
Especially young children are not yet accustomed to studying, so when they understand the content or solve a problem, they just think, “I’ve done my job!”
At this time, parents must intentionally ensure that the child perceives it as a success.
This way, the child can accumulate experiences of success.
These little successes, accumulated little by little, foster a positive attitude and confidence in children about studying, and this attitude and confidence ultimately enhance the child's study stamina.
Especially when children are young, experiences of success are incomparably more important than anything else in their academic lives.
--- p.122, from “Successful Experiences Build Study Stamina”

Even if students at the bottom of the class ambitiously decide to study, they quickly lose interest and close the book because they find there is so much they don't know.
So, it is difficult to escape the lower ranks.
Most of these students are not prepared to study due to lack of concepts and problem-solving skills.
In particular, there are many students who have never been properly evaluated until elementary school and are shocked when they only realize their level after entering middle school.
At this time, there are cases where you try to get ahead of yourself by calming down and thinking that you will do better in the future, but this is a very wrong way to deal with it.
School classes are conducted on the assumption that you already know the previous material, so if you move forward without reviewing what you learned, you will only end up not knowing more.
For students at the bottom, preparation for the act of 'studying' is necessary.
And it's a good idea to start by reviewing elementary math.
(…) What about middle-ranking students? They're generally divided into two groups: "arrogant middle-rankers" and "insecure middle-rankers."
First, 'arrogant middle-ranking' students either overlook math problems by simply looking at them or misjudge their own abilities and focus on difficult problems or pre-learning that are not appropriate for their level.
In contrast, 'middle-level' students who have lost confidence are already afraid of math and believe that they are bad at math, so they only do easy problems and often give up when math becomes increasingly difficult.
A study method that I often recommend to middle-level students is 'making your own textbook.'
This means listening intently to the introduction of concepts and problem solving in class, and then writing down the textbook's explanations of concepts and problem solving on your own to create your own textbook.

--- pp.190-191, from “Tailored Study Methods for Upper, Middle, and Lower Levels”

High school students have a clear goal: college entrance.
To achieve this, you must manage your grades, manage your student record, and prepare for the CSAT.
When you become a third-year student, you have to prepare for an essay or interview depending on the application process.
It's a very busy time.
During this period, parents need to be well aware of the entrance exam flow and their child's goals so they can effectively support their busy child.
However, these days, the college entrance exam process is extremely complex, and each application process is organically linked, making it difficult to grasp the overall direction.
So, when your child becomes a high school student, parents should also slowly start preparing for the entrance exam.
This way, you can discuss the admissions process with your child or their teacher, and understand and support the reasons for your child's choices.

--- pp.213-214, from “Parents Should Also Study for College Entrance Exams”