![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mlokkwzdiygb.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:577\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/chemcademy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Math-and-Chem-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Decline in Math Scores<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s no secret that kids in our nation have fallen behind in math, partly due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)<\/strong><\/a>, math scores for 12th graders in 2024 were at their lowest point since the assessment began.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- The gap between the highest and lowest-performing students in math has widened, and more students than ever are performing at the lowest levels.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n - In 12th grade reading and math, as well as eighth grade science, the steepest declines were observed among the country\u2019s lowest-performing students.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n - The National Science Foundation<\/strong><\/a> reports these are the largest declines in over 30 years<\/em>, especially impacting under-resourced schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mlokkwzdiygb.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:171\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/chemcademy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Separater-5-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThese numbers aren\u2019t just statistics \u2014 they\u2019re real students sitting in our labs. When students lack confidence with algebra, stoichiometry feels impossible. When fractions and ratios are shaky, molarity and percent yield problems can feel like another language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it\u2019s not just about grades. Struggling with math can erode confidence and curiosity. Many students start thinking, \u201cI\u2019m bad at math, so I\u2019ll never be good at chemistry.\u201d<\/em> Unless we help them rebuild that confidence, those thoughts can stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201024%20577%22%20width%3D%221024%22%20height%3D%22577%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%221024%22%20height%3D%22577%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Chemistry Teachers Can Support Students Who Struggle with Math<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWe can\u2019t reteach years of algebra \u2014 but we can<\/em> help students feel more capable and confident using math in chemistry. Here are some practical ideas that make a real difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Start with a quick math check-up<\/strong>
<\/strong>Early in the year, give a short diagnostic or \u201cmath refresher quiz\u201d on algebraic manipulation, fractions, and unit conversions. Knowing where students stand helps you target support before big chemistry topics hit.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Offer simple reference sheets<\/strong>
<\/strong>Give students a \u201cmath-in-chemistry\u201d cheat sheet that includes reminders like:
\n\n- How to rearrange equations
<\/li>\n\n\n\n - Fraction rules and exponent basics
<\/li>\n\n\n\n - Unit conversion steps
<\/li>\n\n\n\n - Dimensional analysis templates
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n - Show every algebra step
<\/strong>When working through stoichiometry or gas law problems, don\u2019t skip steps \u2014 even if a part seems simple. Write out how you isolate a variable or cancel units. What feels \u201cobvious\u201d to us often isn\u2019t to them \u2014 showing your thinking models confidence.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Break math-heavy problems into smaller chunks
<\/strong>Try a three-stage approach:
\n\n- Stage 1:<\/em> Solve the math (pure algebra).
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Stage 2:<\/em> Apply it to the chemistry context.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Stage 3:<\/em> Interpret the meaning and units.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This helps students build understanding piece by piece instead of feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n- Start class with quick math warm-ups<\/strong>
<\/strong>Short 5-minute math refreshers \u2014 like rearranging formulas or canceling units \u2014 keep math skills active and connected to chemistry.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nI often do this prior to each class, especially before quizzes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Use visuals whenever possible<\/strong>
<\/strong>Graphs, models, and diagrams make the math more tangible. For instance, showing mole ratios as particle diagrams can help students see<\/em> the proportional relationships before they calculate them.
Don\u2019t forget videos are a great way to show these kinds of abstract relationships and drive home these core concepts!
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Encourage peer support<\/strong>
<\/strong>Pair students strategically so stronger math students can guide others through structured activities.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Assign small, focused practice sets
<\/strong>Give short \u201cmath for chemistry\u201d practice sheets that target one skill at a time. A few minutes of focused practice can make a big difference over time.
I usually incorporate these into our daily\/weekly classwork grade and plan them around quizzes and labs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nKeep connecting math back to meaning<\/strong>
<\/strong>Show students how math protects their results.<\/em> A single miscalculation can throw off a lab\u2019s entire conclusion \u2014 but getting it right helps their science make sense. When students see math as useful, not separate, motivation follows<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCHEMcademy: Making Math in Chemistry Manageable<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAll of these challenges are exactly what CHEMcademy was built for. You don\u2019t have to create all these supports from scratch. The resources and tips you find here come directly from me \u2014 a fellow high school chemistry teacher who has spent years navigating these same struggles, learning, refining, and growing. And I haven\u2019t done it alone. I\u2019m grateful to have had colleagues, friends, and professors who have poured their wisdom into me over the years. CHEMcademy is my way of passing that knowledge forward \u2014 to make teaching chemistry clearer, easier, and more enjoyable for every teacher who steps into the lab or classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want classroom-tested, ready-to-go labs, check out the CHEMcademy Etsy shop<\/a> and start building a chemistry toolkit you\u2019ll actually use.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThese numbers aren\u2019t just statistics \u2014 they\u2019re real students sitting in our labs. When students lack confidence with algebra, stoichiometry feels impossible. When fractions and ratios are shaky, molarity and percent yield problems can feel like another language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it\u2019s not just about grades. Struggling with math can erode confidence and curiosity. Many students start thinking, \u201cI\u2019m bad at math, so I\u2019ll never be good at chemistry.\u201d<\/em> Unless we help them rebuild that confidence, those thoughts can stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can\u2019t reteach years of algebra \u2014 but we can<\/em> help students feel more capable and confident using math in chemistry. Here are some practical ideas that make a real difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This helps students build understanding piece by piece instead of feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I often do this prior to each class, especially before quizzes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep connecting math back to meaning<\/strong> All of these challenges are exactly what CHEMcademy was built for. You don\u2019t have to create all these supports from scratch. The resources and tips you find here come directly from me \u2014 a fellow high school chemistry teacher who has spent years navigating these same struggles, learning, refining, and growing. And I haven\u2019t done it alone. I\u2019m grateful to have had colleagues, friends, and professors who have poured their wisdom into me over the years. CHEMcademy is my way of passing that knowledge forward \u2014 to make teaching chemistry clearer, easier, and more enjoyable for every teacher who steps into the lab or classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want classroom-tested, ready-to-go labs, check out the CHEMcademy Etsy shop<\/a> and start building a chemistry toolkit you\u2019ll actually use.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mlokkwzdiygb.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:577\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/chemcademy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Math-and-Chem-2-1.png\")
How Chemistry Teachers Can Support Students Who Struggle with Math<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/strong>Early in the year, give a short diagnostic or \u201cmath refresher quiz\u201d on algebraic manipulation, fractions, and unit conversions. Knowing where students stand helps you target support before big chemistry topics hit.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Give students a \u201cmath-in-chemistry\u201d cheat sheet that includes reminders like:
\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>When working through stoichiometry or gas law problems, don\u2019t skip steps \u2014 even if a part seems simple. Write out how you isolate a variable or cancel units. What feels \u201cobvious\u201d to us often isn\u2019t to them \u2014 showing your thinking models confidence.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Try a three-stage approach:
\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mlokkwzdiygb.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:577\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/chemcademy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Math-and-Chem-3.png\")
\n
<\/strong>Short 5-minute math refreshers \u2014 like rearranging formulas or canceling units \u2014 keep math skills active and connected to chemistry.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Graphs, models, and diagrams make the math more tangible. For instance, showing mole ratios as particle diagrams can help students see<\/em> the proportional relationships before they calculate them.
Don\u2019t forget videos are a great way to show these kinds of abstract relationships and drive home these core concepts!
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Pair students strategically so stronger math students can guide others through structured activities.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Give short \u201cmath for chemistry\u201d practice sheets that target one skill at a time. A few minutes of focused practice can make a big difference over time.
I usually incorporate these into our daily\/weekly classwork grade and plan them around quizzes and labs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Show students how math protects their results.<\/em> A single miscalculation can throw off a lab\u2019s entire conclusion \u2014 but getting it right helps their science make sense. When students see math as useful, not separate, motivation follows<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mlokkwzdiygb.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:577\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/chemcademy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CHEMcademy-resources.png\")
CHEMcademy: Making Math in Chemistry Manageable<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n