Why Math Videos and Tutors Aren’t Enough: 3 Hidden Gaps in Student Learning (And How to Fix Them)

Math Videos and Tutors Have Their Place—But It Might Not Be Where You Think

One of the most beautiful things about today’s world is the instant access we have to knowledge. Want to learn how to factor a polynomial, build a birdhouse, or bake the best jalapeño cornbread? It’s one search away. You can watch a video, read a blog, follow some steps—and most of the time, you'll get the result you're after. That’s an incredible advancement in our society.

But when it comes to learning math deeply—not just following steps but understanding how and why things work—that “self-learning” model doesn’t always work the way we hope it will.

When Self-Learning Works Best:

• ✅ You know exactly what you’re trying to learn

• ✅ You have the background knowledge needed for that explanation

• ✅ You can fit the new info into the bigger picture of your learning

And now... let’s be honest. How often is a student, especially one struggling with math, in that position?

Let’s unpack these three points from a student’s perspective—and see where the cracks usually show up.

✅ You know exactly what you want to learn

🧠 Reality check: Most students don’t know what they don’t know.
This is called metacognition—thinking about your own thinking—and it’s a skill that takes time and guidance to develop. Students often come to a video or tutor with a general sense of confusion, but they can’t pinpoint why they’re stuck. That’s where a strong teacher, coach, or mentor comes in: someone who can ask the right questions, identify the missing links, and guide the next steps.

✅ You have the background knowledge needed

🧠 Reality check: Many math videos assume students already understand certain terms or concepts.
If a student lacks that background knowledge, the video often adds to their confusion—and, more dangerously, chips away at their belief in themselves as a math learner.

And then there are the shortcut videos: “tricks” and quick methods that skip over why something works. These can be enticing—and even effective in the moment—but without deep understanding, students can’t apply them flexibly. Instead, they misuse them in the wrong contexts and reinforce incorrect thinking, which is harder to unlearn later.

✅ You can place the new knowledge into the bigger picture

🧠 Reality check: Seeing how one concept fits into the larger math landscape is essential—and rarely taught explicitly.
This "zooming in and zooming out" is one of the most powerful skills a math learner can develop. But it takes time, practice, and daily modeling. We can't assume that watching a 5-minute video on completing the square will help a student understand quadratic structure or connections to graphing. Those bigger-picture takeaways need to be built intentionally.

So, are videos bad?

Absolutely not! I love a well-made math video. And I know tutors can be incredibly helpful. But these tools are just one part of a much bigger system of learning. When used alone—or too early in the process—they can lead to surface-level understanding and frustration.

Let’s be strategic instead.

🛠️ How to Use These Tools More Effectively

You might be thinking,

“Wait… but my child has a tutor. Shouldn’t that help fill these gaps?”

Potentially—yes! A strong tutor can absolutely support point #1 (helping students identify what they don’t understand and where to go next), especially if they see the student regularly and communicate clearly with the family or teacher.

But here’s the tricky part: #3—the big picture work—is often skipped.
Not because it’s unimportant, but because it takes time. And let’s be honest: in a one-hour session, most students come in with a list of 10 questions. Deep learning might only get us through two of those questions—because we’re exploring, analyzing, and connecting. And that’s okay. That’s the work.

This is the investment that pays off later:
✅ In confidence
✅ In retention
✅ In problem-solving
✅ In belief

So... Now What?

Here’s where you, as a parent, student, or educator, can shift the learning game:

🔄 Build a system of learning—not just a collection of tools
🧠 Teach students how to learn math—not just what to memorize
🤝 Get clear on your role in this journey—whether you're the student, the support system, or the guide

✨ This is exactly what I’m here to help you do.
Follow along each week as I break these pieces down and give you actionable strategies to build lasting math confidence and skill.

TLDR – Too Long Didn’t Read

Math videos and tutors are powerful only when part of a bigger learning system.
They’re most helpful when:

• You know exactly what you’re trying to learn
• You have the right background knowledge
• You can fit that new learning into the big picture

Without these, students risk confusion, frustration, and shaky understanding.

✅ ACTION STEP:

Ask your student (or yourself):
“Can you explain why this method works, and when to use it?”
If the answer is “I’m not sure…” — that’s a great place to pause and zoom out.