Did you grow up hating math? Do you have a child who is developing the same hate for math?
You may even develop a pit in the stomach when you know a math test or anything math related is on the way. Later in life even simple things like figuring out a tip can trigger that feeling.
Well:
- You’re not alone
- It’s probably not your fault
Sharon Noguchi of the Bay Area News Group writes that Math anxiety may not be the students’ fault. Many children learn to hate math, become frustrated, and simply give up. As a teacher, I have seen several students give up before they try largely due to poor classroom experiences and low performance grades from previous school years. However, a small theory that is gaining momentum among math educators is students are not provided the correct way of math instruction causing math anxiety.
Typically, in our current, math classes students are encouraged to memorize facts and perform speed drills. From my experience, speed drills can be extremely intimidated for math students insecure with their math knowledge and ability. Much anxiety exudes from speed drill actives. However, two Stanford professors have developed the concept that students should be presented with more visual and creative math exercises to include discussion of ideas and procedures.
A Child Centered Learning Environment
Each student, ideally, should be offered a child-centered learning environment where they can learn and grow within small groups. Activities that both promote and teach real-life math lessons prove to not only engage the student but prepare them for careers and higher education.
Students, especially female students, when they are placed within small groups they tend to thrive and are less insecure about asking and receiving help in deficient areas. Like all new tasks in life be a sport, learning to play an instrument, or new lessons in math the child needs to practice to succeed. With different teaching delivery methods and the students’ determination, you should see a difference in your child’s overall math achievement.
Key takeaways
- Children who hate math give up
- Math anxiety can come from poor classroom experience
- Learning in small, child centered groups, is helpful
If you or your child have suffered from math anxiety it very well could have been the approach that was taken to teaching math. Once an anxiety builds you have to take measures to get rid of it. It won’t go away on it’s own. It’s to deeply ingrained into our emotional make up.
This is why one of the things the Learning Success System focuses on is eliminating anxieties. It’s critical to success.
Do you or your child have a math anxiety? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
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A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
