Overcoming Math Anxiety: Causes, Strategies and Solutions

Math anxiety is a common problem among students of all ages. Learn about the causes & facilitators of this problem & strategies for overcoming it.

Overcoming Math Anxiety: Causes, Strategies and Solutions

Math anxiety is a common problem among students of all ages. It is defined as a feeling of fear, apprehension, or worry about mathematics. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including negative experiences in the classroom or at home, parental anxiety, peer pressure, and societal misconceptions about mathematics. New research has revealed that math anxiety is related to increased activity in areas of the brain that relate to fear of failure before a math task, not during it.

This fear takes up mental space during a math task, making it difficult for students to think and solve problems. In order to overcome math anxiety, it is important to understand the causes and facilitators of this problem. Teachers play an important role in making the class more engaging and reducing anxieties. Parents can also help by talking about the anxieties and fears their children may face, and identifying any learning problems at an early stage.

Peers can have a negative impact on their colleagues, so it is important to create a positive learning environment. Finally, society can contribute to the development of mathematical anxiety due to misconceptions about mathematics or mathematical myths. Once the causes of math anxiety are understood, there are several strategies that can be used to help students overcome this problem. Giving students adequate time to think helps them develop conceptual understanding and communicates that being quick in mathematics is not the same as being good at it.

Assuring students that there is no such thing as a math person, or that there are special people who are born with more math skills, will reduce their anxiety and help them see themselves as mathematicians. Check out these math anxiety strategies to find out how to improve your child's performance in the classroom. Finally, it is important to evaluate the factors that contribute to math anxiety in order to find ways to help people with this problem. The evaluation of these factors can determine methods to improve self-awareness, which may end in overcoming math anxiety.

For example, the relationship between drug and drug miscalculations and mathematical anxiety in the health field can be investigated. Math anxiety is a common problem among students of all ages and can have a negative impact on their long-term performance in mathematics. It is important to understand the causes and facilitators of this problem in order to find ways to help people with math anxiety and ultimately prevent it from happening. By understanding the causes of math anxiety and implementing strategies such as giving students adequate time to think and assuring them that there is no such thing as a “math person”, we can help students overcome this problem and improve their performance in mathematics.

Shahid Lakha
Shahid Lakha

Shahid Lakha is a seasoned educational consultant with a rich history in the independent education sector and EdTech. With a solid background in Physics, Shahid has cultivated a career that spans tutoring, consulting, and entrepreneurship. As an Educational Consultant at Spires Online Tutoring since October 2016, he has been instrumental in fostering educational excellence in the online tutoring space. Shahid is also the founder and director of Specialist Science Tutors, a tutoring agency based in West London, where he has successfully managed various facets of the business, including marketing, web design, and client relationships. His dedication to education is further evidenced by his role as a self-employed tutor, where he has been teaching Maths, Physics, and Engineering to students up to university level since September 2011. Shahid holds a Master of Science in Photon Science from the University of Manchester and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Bath.