Math: Is it really that scary?

Why do people get so anxious about math?

 

Imagine you are sitting in the middle of math class: you feel your heart racing, your palms get sweaty, you count down the minutes until the next lesson just so it can be over. For many students, the subject of math creates so much internal anxiety that it becomes hard to focus, allowing for discouraging thoughts in your head about being able to succeed in math. Math anxiety can happen to anyone, in fact, researchers think about 20% of the population suffers from it! But why is it that people get so anxious about math, and can it be fixed? 

Having math anxiety doesn't mean you're bad at math - people are not anxious about math because they're bad at it, in reality they are doing poorly in math because they are anxious about it.  Insecurity, self-doubt, and stress are all factors contributing to math anxiety. A lot of this anxiety can be a result of preconceived notions about math - whether that is parents explicitly voicing that math is their least favourite subject, or teachers having anxiety about teaching math because it isn't their "strong subject", or parents putting pressure on their kids with the idea that being good at math means that you are smart - all of these are factors that can cause immense anxiety about math.

How can we fix our mentality?

Mindfulness activities such as breathing exercises before a math lesson or test can help students remain calm before jumping into the subject. This has the potential to prevent any panicking or stress when it comes to math. Having students write down their worries about math could also help - this would provide a good indication for the teacher of where the student might need help or extra clarity on a lesson. Physical activity, such as stretching or a quick walk, can relieve stress and tension in the mind, allowing students to start fresh with a clear mind before jumping back into the lesson. Maintaining a growth mindset will also alleviate math anxiety. If students are aware that learning isn't fixed, and their potential to learn and understand math can and will develop, they will gain more confidence in their ability to learn and be more willing to enjoy math. Importantly, give children the time and space to work through their answers - they will naturally feel less stress if they are able to work at their own pace. Furthermore, as a teacher become confident in math skills in order to encourage your students to be confident. 

Math anxiety is not something that reflects your ability, but it is something you can conquer with time and awareness. 

Go to: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-people-get-so-anxious-about-math-orly-rubinsten

Caitlin@NU