How many times have you heard children, and adults alike say that Mathematics is difficult? Albeit there has been many. The connotation that Mathematics is difficult adds up to the anxiety of learners. What happens is that the anxiety eats up the mind instead of maximizing the mind’s ability to function for the math problems.
There are ways to decrease this anxiety. First and foremost is to free your mind from the thought that mathematics is difficult. Condition the minds of the students that there is nothing to be worried about mathematics. It is not a subject to be feared but an opportunity to learn wonderful facts and things not only about numbers but many operations useful to life.
Secondly, mathematics is not to be thought as something a person has inborn talents of. As a teacher, it is crucial to help children understand that math can be learned and practiced. Through constant practice, one is able to build his/her capabilities to learn mathematics with ease.
Thirdly, mathematics can be fun. Provide students fun activities and drills they will look forward to doing instead of very challenging math tests that only stirs the anxiety in them. When math lessons and tests are presented in a manner that enables children to see them as games or play, they are better equipped to answer the tests correctly and be able to understand mathematical concepts because they are not stressed..
Fourthly, be a role model. Show them that you enjoy mathematics and that you are enthusiastic about teaching it. This same enthusiasm can inspire them to like the subject as well.
Finally, record progress of the students. This enables them to see that they are increasing their mathematical skills making them less anxious and more encouraged. Be there for them every step of the way and do not make a math test seems like a make or break episode in their life.
With these simple steps, students might have a bigger chance to love this dreaded subject and can even become a start of something huge for them as future mathematicians.
References:
Bielock, Sian, Elizabeth Gunderson, Gerardo Ramirez, and Susan Levine. “Female teachers’ math anxiety affects girls’ math achievement.” PNAS 107, no. 5 (2010): 1860-1863. Retrieved from www.medicine.mcgill.ca/epidemiology/hanley/tmp/Applications/WomenMath.pdf October 1, 2014.
Episode 54: Math Anxiety – Causes and Cures”, by Michael on April 13, 2008, http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/04/episode-54-math-anxiety-causes-and-cures/Retrieved on October 5, 2014
Furner, Joseph M., Berman, Barbara T., “Math anxiety: Overcoming a major obstacle to the improvement of student math performance”, Childhood Education, Spring 2003.
By: Ruel P. Labrador | T – III | Morong Elementary School
