Teaching to diffuse Math Anxiety.

Teachers play an important part role in relation to help students cope with math anxiety.

Here is a list of some things that teachers can do to help:

• Teachers should create a comfortable, calm, non threatening, learning environment. 
• They should let the students know that they care for them; care for their feelings and learning.
•  Teacher should encourage their students to ask any question and be willing to answer all that arise.
• Teachers should handle incorrect responses/answer positively to encourage the student involvement and to enhance their confidence.
• Teachers should never make a student feel "stupid", deliberately or unintentionally.
• Teachers should communicate their enjoyment of math in their teaching.
• Teacher should teach for understanding not for just replication of the procedure demonstrated.
• Teachers shouldn't prejudice a student's ability or make an assumption about a his motivation without exploring the background and/or life situation of the student.
• Teachers should encourage students to maximize their abilities to learn and not to give up.
• Teachers should avoid anxious students into intimidating circumstances, such as working a problem on the board or being singled out to answer a question in class.
• Teachers should offer students alternative ways of participating in class until their confidence is back.*

One last thought, ALWAYS give positive reinforcement to your student. This will enhance their confidence and self - esteem.


                       *Some parts where taken from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

“A teacher must do more than just give great lectures.  Success for many students is related to how we make them feel in class.”

                           Fiore, 1999

School Counselor and Math Anxiety: Definition of Math Anxiety

School Counselor and Math Anxiety: Definition of Math Anxiety: One definition of math anxiety is “the panic, helplessness, paralysis, and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they...

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!!!

Thank you United States, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Kuwait, Puerto Rico, and the others for following and enjoying my blog!!

School Counselor and Math Anxiety: Do You Have Math Anxiety?

School Counselor and Math Anxiety: Do You Have Math Anxiety?: This survey may help you or your students understand their attitude towards math. Do not consider a high total to mean that you are hopeless...

Do You Have Math Anxiety?

This survey may help you or your students understand their attitude towards math. Do not consider a high total to mean that you are hopeless and will always be like that. Try to use it to make some changes in your math study habits and dealing with the anxiety.


Choose from the scale of 1 to 5 on the right. Where 5 corresponds to strong agreement with the statement and 1 corresponds to little or no agreement with the statement.
1. I become physically agitated when I have to go to math class.                                     1 2 3 4 5
2. I am fearful about be asked go to the board in a math class.                                      1 2 3 4 5
3. I am afraid to ask questions in math class.                                                               1 2 3 4 5
4. I am always worried about being called on in math class.                                           1 2 3 4 5
5. I understand math now, but I worry that it's going to get really difficult soon.          1 2 3 4 5
6. I tend to lose my concentration in math class.                                                           1 2 3 4 5
7. I fear math tests more than any other kind.                                                               1 2 3 4 5
8. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with the rest of the class.                                      1 2 3 4 5
9. I don't know how to study for math tests.                                                                   1 2 3 4 5
10. It's clear to me in math class, but when I go home it's like I was never there.              1 2 3 4 5

If you score in the 40-50 range it is likely that you have math anxiety to some extent.

*** A note of caution about these types of surveys:
Just because a survey indicates that you may have math anxiety, using this as an excuse for failure can be just
as damaging as the math anxiety itself.