Mathematics is one the most common causes of anxiety in students.
The math anxiety is defined to be some form of a tension that crops up in an individual suddenly without prior notice especially when s/he is involved in any sort of activity that’s directly related to that of numbers, formulae, symbols, signs and various other mathematical operations.
Okay, now is it a problem? Most teachers reckon it to be a problem for sure. But is there a solution? You bet there is!
There are several proven ways through which you might just be able to convert this problem into a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. But before we get to those solutions, we need to get to the source first. So what causes math anxiety in students? We’ll see to it first and then proceed systematically.
Causes of math anxiety
Timed tests are considered to be one of the biggest culprits around to have played a huge role in incorporating the math anxiety in students. The rush for the clock is stressful enough. And once you connect the same with that of mathematics, it gets worse. The result is right before our eyes: math anxiety.
“Fear of public humiliation”: This one rightfully reserves our 2nd spot as one of the primary causes of math anxiety in students. Certain students make a strange link between mathematics with the possibilities of public humiliation. Meaning, they feel that if they ask their teacher any math-related question for further clarifications, they will be laughed or mocked at because of their incompetence.
The 3rd place goes to “math misconceptions.” These math misconceptions take shape at the budding stage of a student’s career and plague them throughout his/her entire career.
Preventing the math anxiety in 5 proven ways
So we have got to the roots first. We have seen to the problems and the causes that result in the occurrence of math anxiety. Now it’s time to look at the possible solutions.
#1. Incorporation of technology in classrooms
It’s commonly seen that most students face a great deal of this anxiety in traditional classrooms. Therefore we need to modernize each and every one of these classes to get the best possible results. Incorporation of technology is definitely the first step in the right direction.
#2. Tactical dealing of incorrect responses
Like we said before, the possibilities of public humiliation does create a huge deal of anxiety of students. Math teachers need to do everything s/he can to alleviate this issue and make the student feel at home in the best possible way.
Teaches therefore are advised to be more tolerant while dealing with incorrect responses. Yes, this can be quite difficult to maintain especially when you take their load in consideration but this need to be done for the betterment of the classes as a whole.
#3. Encourage students to connect math with their daily life
Although mathematics is heavily connected with that of our daily life, most students fail to grasp this connection in general because of the seemingly abstract nature of the subject. Can you make them connect math with that of their real world?
Can you encourage them or their parents to make them do so? Try and do it ASAP. Things like that definitely going to benefit them in the long run.
#4. Teaching through animated movies and short films (cartoons, to be more specific)
Children love cartoons. So if you can use such things as a part of your teaching tactic, you are definitely going to get yourself an ace in the hole.
For example, You can use the animated cartoon “Donald in Mathmagic Land” to teach various arithmetic operations to your students in general. Most would not even realize that they are learning mathematics while having fun at the same time.
#5. Implement origami
By blending art with mathematics, you will definitely be able to make your math classes more fun from now and onwards.
Origami is definitely one of the best ways of learning geometrical shapes in general. You can actually implement the same in your classes to get the best possible results.
Always remember that math anxiety isn’t something of a problem having no possible solutions. It has many if you have the guts and the desire to find them the right way. So are you up for it? You better be. After all, it’s a matter of your students’ future which, in turn is directly related to that of the country as well. We wish you the best of luck with your endeavor.