Do you find that your students hesitate to answer questions in your math class? Are they frequently frustrated and tend to shut down easily? Do you find yourself worn out and feel like you are pulling teeth to get through a math lesson? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, chances are your students suffer from math anxiety. They are not alone, 93 percent of Americans report having some level of math anxiety. Keep reading, because I’m getting ready to tell you how to reduce math anxiety in students that results in increased achievement.
You are probably wondering, “what can I do to help them overcome this math anxiety and achieve what they are capable of?” The answer is actually pretty simple. Let’s take a look at a few simple ways you can bring joy into your math classroom.
Think about your favorite season? Why do you love it? My favorite season is Summer! The sun comes out and it’s warm everywhere. Summer is when dopamine is released for me. Because I have Reynaud’s Syndrome, I can go anywhere in the summer without the anxiety about my fingers and toes going numb from a slight chill. Or losing my shoe because It’s so cold that my feet are numb and I don’t feel my flats come off (true story, lol). But my favorite holiday is during the winter. Why doesn’t that bring on anxiety for me? Well, it’s the time that I spend with the people who know me. They are aware of my need to feel warm and they provide those things for me.
I can equate that to what math should feel like for my students. It can be summer with no worries or it can be winter, where conditions aren’t favorable, but students know that they are supported in those conditions and they can still enjoy it!
Math anxiety isn’t anything new. It has been around for quite some time. In fact, in 1981, researcher Sherard, defined it as the fear of math or an intense negative emotional response to mathematics. There are several causes of math anxiety such as lack of confidence, negative feelings towards math from parents and teachers, fear of making mistakes, weak foundational skills, low tolerance for challenges, personality type, and many more. Some research studies have found that students who have high math anxiety, don’t perform as well as those with low math anxiety. In my teaching practice, there are a few things that I have found to help.
How to reduce math anxiety through building relationships with students.
If one of the causes of math anxiety is a personality type, then this means that we should really focus on getting to know our students and building relationships with them. On an Instagram reel that I recently posted, a student commented that “…math is only good when the teacher is cool and understanding.”
The only way to be understanding is to build relationships with students and relate to them in a personal way.
Have you ever heard someone say, Maslow before Bloom?
With the demand for high student achievement in the American school systems, sometimes it’s easy for an educator to get lost in being data-driven. This is due to pressure from district administrators. We forget to build relationships with students.
Matthew Lieberman believes that we should begin with establishing a sense of belonging and love in our students. Scientists who study the brain are finding that when we build positive relationships, dopamine is released which helps the brain relax and take in information. One way that I’ve built positive relationships this year is through spending time at the beginning of each class talking to students about things that interest them. This allows me to get to know my students. I show excitement for their accomplishments and establish a level of trust and comfort with them. I look forward to this part of my class every day.
Here is a list of questions that you can ask students each day to engage in conversation with them. I also send them encouraging notes when I notice that they have done something worthy of being celebrated. I also send them for their birthdays. My husband and I had the privilege of interviewing a Chicago teacher, who was selected teacher of the year her first year of teaching. Can you believe it? We believe that it was truly because of the way that she makes connections with students. You can check it out here. If you watch it, comment with #relationshipsmatter and I’d love to connect with you.
How to reduce math anxiety through encouraging a growth mindset and building in SEL
Carol Dweck is famous for her books on Growth Mindset.
Research shows that when students believe and understand that the brain is like a muscle and can indeed grow, they are more motivated and this can result in higher academic achievement.
One way that I encourage a growth mindset in my classroom daily is through monthly growth mindset quotes. I become their coach and weave this quote into everything we do. If a student is working on a problem and gets stuck I encourage them. I remind them about a certain part of the quote. This helps to adjust the wrong thinking that they may have in the moment about math. It eases their anxiety when they remember that it’s ok for them to make mistakes. Here are the monthly quotes that I use. There are enough quotes for each month of the school year.
Experts believe that in order for a student’s brain to function properly and support learning, it has to be in a state of chemical balance (homeostasis).
Those with math anxiety have so many negative feelings associated with math. The part of their brain that needs to be used to allow information in is literally blocked. In the book, Social Emotional Learning and the Brain, by Marilee Sprenger, she references Alan Beck, founder of Advantage Academy. He believes that social-emotional learning gives students the opportunity to deal with stress and anxiety. They are then able to focus on higher-level thinking.
Allow students to check in with their emotions each day.
To bring students to a place of homeostasis, I allow them to check in with their emotions each day. They simply circle how they are feeling and respond to a question that fosters social-emotional learning which also allows me to build relationships with them. If I know how they are feeling, I know how to comfort and support them and not trigger them. Here is a resource with quotes, questions, and check-in slides already created for you for the entire school year.
How to reduce math anxiety by having instructional support materials and models for students
Students that have math anxiety are able to relax when they have models or things written down in steps for them.
This allows them to feel supported and not like they are standing alone. They won’t panic if they know the supports are there. Several students find success through using anchor charts as they are working. Anchor charts model the concept for students so that they have something to refer to if they get stuck. Students will eventually become more and more familiar with the concept, and they eventually won’t need the chart. But until they feel comfortable enough, they need to feel supported. These are the anchor charts that I’ve used that my students have experienced success with. You can also view this blog about how to use these properly.
Be Joyful!
Did you know that emotions are contagious? According to researchers, joy can be passed from person to person without either party realizing it. The more expressive you are about something, people will notice and in turn replicate those emotions. When you are excited about what you are teaching, your students will be as well. Teach the concepts with enthusiasm. Excitement and passion are contagious. Also, be cautious of the messages that you may send about math. Keep the environment fun, positive, and encouraging!
Now that you know how to begin reducing math anxiety in students, you can start in your class today. Are you thinking you’d like to try using motivational quotes and agenda slides for free before committing to it? I totally understand. You want to make sure that your students are really going to buy into it before you spend your coins on it. This is exactly why I decided to take a portion of my Activities for Social-Emotional Learning packet and gift it to you! Enneagram wing 1, coming through! Gift-giving is my love language. Sign up below to get your FREE startup kit. Get started with your students and start decreasing math anxiety today!
