How Does Math Anxiety Impact Children? What Can We As Parents and Teachers Do About It?
by Julie Diamond, OCT
*This blog post will take about 8 minutes to read*
Math anxiety is more than just a simple unease or nervousness about dealing with mathematical concepts. It represents a complex emotional response characterized by panic, tension, and helplessness that surface when individuals encounter math-related tasks or even contemplate them.
This psychological phenomenon goes beyond a mere dislike for the subject, as it can create significant challenges in the cognitive and emotional realms, impacting learning outcomes and shaping individuals' attitudes towards math.
While math anxiety is not a medical condition, and I don’t claim to be a doctor, it is a huge barrier for students and prevents them from progressing in their proficiency in math.
In this blog post, I explore the topic further, focusing on recognizing signs of math anxiety in children (or yourself), discussing potential long-term consequences, and offering guidance for teachers and parents on providing support.
What Does Math Anxiety Look Like?
Identifying math anxiety involves recognizing specific signs and behaviours that may indicate a negative emotional response to math.
Here are some common indicators of math anxiety:
Avoidance of Math Activities:
If they consistently avoid math-related tasks, homework, or discussions about mathematical concepts, it might be a sign of math anxiety. They may express a strong reluctance to engage with anything related to math.
Negative Self-Talk:
Listen for negative statements or self-deprecating math-related comments. Phrases like "I'm not good at math" or "I hate math" may indicate a lack of confidence and heightened anxiety about the subject.
Visible Signs of Stress:
Pay attention to physical and emotional reactions during math-related activities. If your child exhibits signs of stress, such as sweating, fidgeting, or becoming visibly upset, it could be a manifestation of math anxiety.
Low Confidence in Math Abilities:
Children with math anxiety often express low confidence in their ability to understand and solve math problems. They may believe that they are not capable of succeeding in math, even if they possess the skills.
Decline in Academic Performance:
A sudden decline in math grades or academic performance may be linked to math anxiety. If your child was previously performing well in math and then starts struggling, it could be a red flag.
Perfectionism:
Some children with math anxiety develop perfectionist tendencies, fearing that any mistake is a reflection of their overall ability. They may be overly concerned about getting every answer right and may experience heightened anxiety when faced with challenges.
Procrastination:
If your child consistently procrastinates when it comes to math assignments or studying for math tests, it could be a coping mechanism to avoid the anxiety associated with the subject.
Physical Symptoms:
Math anxiety can sometimes manifest physically, leading to symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or other signs of discomfort when confronted with math-related tasks.
Difficulty Explaining Solutions:
Children with math anxiety may struggle to articulate their thought processes when solving math problems. They may have difficulty explaining their reasoning or feel overwhelmed when asked to discuss mathematical concepts.
Expressed Fear of Failure:
A strong fear of making mistakes or failing in math-related activities is a common aspect of math anxiety. Your child may be apprehensive about the consequences of getting something wrong.
If you observe these signs in your child, it's important to address their feelings and experiences with math in a supportive manner.
What Are The Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Math Anxiety?
Untreated math anxiety in students can have profound and enduring consequences, impacting various aspects of their academic and personal development.
Some of the long-term consequences may include
Academic Underachievement:
Persistent math anxiety can hinder a student's ability to perform well in math-related subjects, leading to lower grades and academic underachievement. This, in turn, may lead them to set lower or limited expectations for themselves because they believe they can’t do better.
Limited Career Choices:
Math anxiety often deters students from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This can restrict their options, as many in-demand professions require a solid foundation in mathematics.
Reduced Confidence in Problem-Solving:
Math anxiety not only affects performance in math but can also erode a student's confidence in solving problems across various disciplines. This lack of confidence may extend into adulthood, impacting their decision-making abilities.
Avoidance of Math-Related Tasks:
They may develop a habit of avoiding situations that involve mathematical tasks. This avoidance can persist into adulthood, affecting their ability to manage finances, make informed decisions, and engage in everyday activities that require mathematical skills.
Negative Impact on Mental Health:
Untreated math anxiety can contribute to low self-esteem and a negative self-image. These effects may extend into adulthood, influencing their overall well-being.
Continued Fear of Learning:
Math anxiety can instill a fear of learning new concepts, not only in mathematics but also in other subjects. The fear of failure may become a barrier to acquiring new skills and knowledge throughout life.
Impaired Critical Thinking Skills:
Math anxiety can impair critical thinking skills, affecting an individual's ability to analyze situations, make logical decisions, and solve problems effectively.
Negative Impact on Future Generations:
If math anxiety is not addressed, it may perpetuate across generations. Parents with math anxiety may inadvertently pass on their fears and negative attitudes about math to their children, creating a cycle of anxiety that continues over time.
How Can Teachers Help with Math Anxiety?
Teachers play a pivotal role in creating a supportive and conducive learning environment for students grappling with math anxiety. Identifying possible signs, such as avoidance behaviours or negative self-dialogue, including one's own, is essential.
Here are some strategies teachers can use to alleviate math anxiety in their classrooms:
Visual Aids and External Records:
Create visually engaging anchor charts that break down complex math problems, showcasing step-by-step solutions. Include illustrations and color-coding to make the information more accessible.
Regularly update the classroom with new anchor charts for different topics, encouraging students to refer to them independently during assignments or assessments.
Problem Articulation:
Organize regular peer-to-peer or student-to-teacher discussions where individuals articulate their problem-solving approach. This could involve explaining the steps taken to solve a particular math problem, fostering a deeper understanding.
Mnemonics and Memory Aids:
Develop memorable mnemonics or catchy phrases for key mathematical concepts or formulas. For instance, using acronyms like "BEMDAS" (Brackets, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) to remember the order of operations.
Or PIES which is used to describe a 4-step process for solving word problems. The acronym is described as P=Picture (draw a simple sketch) based on the situation described by the word problem), I=Information (circle keywords in the problem), E=Equation (find an equation that fits the information), and S=Solve (solve the equation to produce an answer).
Incorporate mnemonic devices during lessons and encourage students to create their own. Regularly reinforce the use of these memory aids to enhance retention.
Positive Classroom Climate:
Begin each math class with a lighthearted activity, such as a math-related joke or trivia question. Establish a classroom culture that emphasizes collaboration, support, and a positive attitude toward challenges.
Mixed Groupings:
The practice of grouping struggling students in math classes for targeted instruction is common, yet it often results in these students remaining in such groups without progression. This approach leads to varying levels of math instruction compared to high-performing peers and may reinforce negative self-perceptions among struggling students regarding their mathematical abilities.
Implement a rotation system where students move between different groups, ensuring exposure to various learning environments. Incorporate peer mentoring, allowing high-performing students to assist struggling peers.
Regularly assess students' progress and adjust groupings accordingly. Provide opportunities for struggling students to move to different groups based on their improved understanding.
What Can Parents Do at Home to Help Their Child with Math Anxiety?
Parents play a crucial role in shaping a child's perception of math and can contribute significantly to alleviating or perpetuating math anxiety.
Here are some effective strategies to help your child at home:
Positive Reinforcement:
Praise effort rather than focusing solely on grades. Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing that abilities can improve through hard work and perseverance.
Math Integration into Daily Life:
Incorporate math into everyday activities, such as counting objects, discussing patterns and shapes, or comparing prices at the store. While you are doing these things, use the correct vocabulary — fractions, centimetres, perimeter, and percentages - and don’t be afraid to call what you are doing math. The goal is to make math a familiar and accessible part of their daily life.
Open Communication:
Create an open dialogue with your child about their feelings toward math. Address any negative self-talk and provide reassurance. Acknowledge that it's okay not to have all the answers immediately and emphasize the value of the learning process.
Collaborative Learning:
Work together on math-related tasks. If your child encounters difficult homework questions, admit if you don't know the answer and explore solutions together. This approach models a healthy response to uncertainty.
Get a Math Tutor:
If you’re not a lover of math, connect your child to someone who is. Their passion and creativity for math will be contagious! When speaking with the tutor make sure you ask them specific questions. See my previous post about the right questions to ask when hiring a tutor here.
You want to make sure the tutor is comfortable teaching math using multiple strategies (not just the one way they prefer), that they can connect math to the real world to show how it’s relevant, and can also make the lessons fun.
Who Is More Likely to Have Math Anxiety?
Anyone can feel math anxiety, but some groups, like girls, might feel it more because of stereotypes. Society sometimes thinks only boys are good at math, which can make girls more anxious. But remember, math anxiety is not just for one gender, and we should work to break these stereotypes.
What Factors Are Associated with Mathematics Anxiety?
A few things can make math anxiety worse:
Stereotypes:
Thinking only certain people are good at math can make anxiety worse, especially for girls.
Bad Past Experiences:
If someone had trouble with math before, it can make them more anxious.
Parental Attitudes:
If parents don't like math, it will likely make their child feel the same way especially if they hear their parents talking negatively about math at home.
Classroom Atmosphere:
A stressful or competitive class can add to math anxiety. Making the class a positive and friendly place is important.
In the end, math anxiety is a big challenge, but there are ways to make it better. Teachers and parents can work together to create a supportive and positive environment where students can feel confident, overcome anxiety, and discover the joy of learning math.