Let’s talk about something many of us have experienced but might not always know how to tackle: math anxiety. It’s more common than some may think and can really impact how students feel about learning math. Math anxiety isn’t just about disliking math. It’s a real psychological response that can interfere with our students’ ability to perform well in math-related tasks. This anxiety can look like tension, fear, or even panic when faced with math. Understanding what math anxiety is and how it affects our students is the first step in helping them overcome it. Today, we are going to look at the causes and some ways to help our students navigate through!
What is Math Anxiety?
Just like the anxiety some of us feel about other situations in life, math anxiety is that feeling of panic or fear that some of our kiddos get when faced with math. This can range from a slight nervousness to a full-blown panic attack. Math anxiety can cause our students to freeze up during tests, avoid math-related activities, and even doubt their own abilities. Because of these feelings, they might refuse to work or begin to lash out.
Math anxiety can affect anyone, regardless of their actual math abilities. Even our students who are good at math can experience anxiety. This emotional response can create a vicious cycle where anxiety leads to poor performance, which in turn increases anxiety. Breaking this cycle is important for helping our students build confidence and succeed in math.
Causes of Math Anxiety
There are a few culprits. Negative experiences with math early on can play a big role. Maybe a tough teacher or a challenging test left a lasting impression. These early experiences can shape a student’s attitude toward math and contribute to long-term anxiety.
Attitudes about math that our students encounter through social media or even at home also play a significant role. Messages that suggest math is difficult or that not everyone can be good at it can discourage students. When students internalize these beliefs, they start to see themselves as “not a math person”. This can hinder their performance and increase anxiety. It’s important to challenge these attitudes and encourage a growth mindset in our students.
Identifying Math Anxiety
Math anxiety may look different from student to student! Look for signs like avoidance of math activities. Physical symptoms like sweating, a racing heart, or frequent trips to the bathroom. The expressions of fear or frustration when faced with math tasks are also a common tell-tale sign. Some students might also show a lack of confidence or a fixed mindset.
It’s also important to listen to what our students say about math. Comments like, “I’m just not good at math,” or “I can’t do this,” can be red flags. Pay attention to their body language as well. Our students with math anxiety might fidget, look anxious, or try to avoid eye contact during math lessons. By recognizing these signs, we can intervene early and provide the support they need.
Overcoming Math Anxiety
One effective approach is to create a positive and supportive learning environment. Encourage a growth mindset by praising effort rather than just correct answers. Let students know that making mistakes is part of the learning process and they can improve with practice. A phrase I often use during class is, “mistakes are proof that you are trying”. I also reassure them that pencils don’t come with erasers for decoration purposes!
Another way is to plan engaging activities that make math fun and relevant. When we create that buy-in, it also serves as a distraction for our students. They feel like they are just playing a game or interacting with peers when they are actually learning as well. It takes some of that pressure off of them. Using real-world examples shows how math applies to everyday life. This can help our students see math as useful and interesting rather than daunting. Providing plenty of opportunities for our students to experience success in math, no matter how small, can also boost their confidence and reduce anxiety.
Helping Our Students With Math Anxiety
As teachers, we’re on the front lines of helping students manage math anxiety. To start, we can normalize the feeling. It’s important we let our students know it’s okay to feel anxious and that many people do. This helps them to see they are not alone or different from others. Teach them relaxation techniques and coping strategies, like deep breathing or positive self-talk. These tools can help them stay calm and focused during math tasks.
Using Spiral Review
Spiral review is a fantastic way to reinforce previously learned concepts without overwhelming our students. By revisiting topics, students build a stronger foundation and gain confidence in their abilities. This approach helps them retain information better and reduces the fear of forgetting what they’ve learned. Consistent practice through spiral review can also demystify math. This makes it less intimidating and more manageable over time.
Incorporating Math Wheels
Math wheels are another excellent tool for decreasing math anxiety. This interactive note-taking format makes learning math concepts fun and engaging. Math wheels can cover various topics. Each wheel focuses on one math concept. Each section of the wheel breaks down each step of the concept into simple steps, terms or examples. The chunking of the concepts helps make them more approachable and helps students build on their understanding. To help retain the information more, students are able to color-code, color, and doodle in each section. Having the math concept simplified and not buried in a lot of extra information helps students feel more comfortable and less worried about all there is to remember. To read more about math wheels, make sure to check out the Math Note-Taking Method: Math Wheels page!
Color by Number Activities
Color by number activities are a creative way to combine art and math, making learning more enjoyable for students. These activities involve solving math problems to reveal a hidden picture or pattern. They provide a relaxing and visually stimulating way for students to practice math. This isn’t timed or in front of a whole group. Color by number activities are perfect for independent work or with partners where it’s low-stakes. This helps to lower anxiety levels and build positive experiences with the subject. Plus, it’s a great self-checking tool because if a color doesn’t align, it signals to the student to review their work.
Math Anxiety Can Be Overcome
So what’s the takeaway here? Math anxiety is real, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent roadblock. By understanding its causes and learning how to identify and address them, we can help our students develop a more positive relationship with math. Remember, the goal is to build confidence and show students that they are capable of overcoming their fears.
Looking to dive deeper into this topic? Make sure to check out my free ebook, The Truth About Math Anxiety, where I explain math anxiety, its causes, and strategies to help our students overcome it!
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