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Parent Teacher Conferences
Six Ways to Help Kids Overcome Math Anxiety
I recently found this article in one of my NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) publications, and wanted to share it with all of you. It was written by Bonnie Duhé, vice president of math curriculum for STEMscopes Math Curriculum. -Ms. Thompson
Inspiring a love for math can open up a world of opportunities for kids. Yet, for many, math can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Math anxiety can affect anyone. Research shows a strong negative relationship between math anxiety and achievement. It can create a vicious circle: If kids perform poorly, they might become anxious—and that anxiety can lead to poor performance. Here are six ways to help reduce math anxiety.
1. Foster a Positive Attitude Parents’ math anxiety can influence children's attitudes. Many adults still believe math myths— like that someone is a “math person” or not. Kids need to hear that math is for everyone.
2. Make Math Relevant Use the 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) lesson model at home to engage kids in hands-on learning and real-world tasks (cooking, baking, traveling, time, and so on).
3. Set High Expectations Challenging kids helps them develop strong problem-solving skills. When students work through difficult problems, they engage in productive struggle and develop grit.
4. Create a Safe Environment for Learning Making mistakes is part of learning. Getting the wrong answer doesn’t mean your child can’t solve the problem; it just means they haven’t solved the problem yet. While learning math, children should feel comfortable enough to take risks and share their approaches to problem-solving. They’ll see mistakes as opportunities to learn and feel more comfortable persisting in the struggle.
5. Use Positive Language Negative language can fuel self-doubt and contribute to burnout. Suggesting positive alternatives can help students change the way they think about math. Instead of “I’m bad at this,” say “I can improve.” Or instead of “This is too hard for me,” try “Learning takes time.”
6. Write It Out Research shows that kids who write out or discuss math anxiety tend to do better on tests. Asking your child to write out their thoughts and ideas—expressing both their intellectual and emotional reactions to math content—can help them reflect on their comprehension, engagement, and feelings about a lesson. Soon, they will see more choices in how they respond to difficulties.
When students take control of their anxiety, they can focus more on the math and less on their worries about math. They can begin to see moments of struggle as fruitful learning opportunities, rather than sources of stress.
Ms. Heather Thompson
Special Education Director
Shelby-Rising City Public Schools
Email: hthompson@shelby.esu7.org
Website: https://www.shelby.esu7.org/
Location: 650 North Walnut Street, Shelby, NE, USA
Phone: 402-527-5946 5718
Twitter: @mrs_thompson007