Math anxiety also known as math phobia, is anxiety about one's ability to do mathematics. It is a widespread problem for all ages across the globe. According to Research Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, 93% of the adults indicate that they experience some level of math anxiety. About 17% of the US-
American population suffers from high levels of math anxiety. According to data provided by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) studies in 2013, in its 2012 assessments, across the 34 participating Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, 59% of the 15- to 16-year-old students reported that they are often anxious that math classes will be tough for them; 33% reported that they get feel very anxious when they have to complete math homework; and another 31% stated they get very nervous while solving math problems Undoubtedly, math anxiety has been a matter of concern in education for a long time and is a real problem for many children and their parents. It can have a significant impact on a student’s academic performance and self-esteem. Math anxiety is not be confused with math avoidance and needs to be identified by an expert who teaches math. As a parent or guardian, it's important to understand the causes of math anxiety and to take steps to help your child overcome it. Here are five ways you can help your child combat math anxiety and excel in math.
1. Personalized Online Tutoring: One of the most effective ways to help your child combat math anxiety is to provide them with personalized online math tutoring. One-on-one interaction with an online tutor allows your child to work one-on-one with a qualified math tutor from the comfort of your home. The tutor tailors the lessons to their specific needs and learning style. John, a 6th grader was struggling with math and had a lot of anxiety about it. His parents hired an online math tutor. The expert middle school math tutor developed a good rapport with him, patiently identified his strengths and weaknesses and created a customized study plan for him. In a few months, John's math anxiety reduced and his math skills improved. 2. Positive Reinforcement: Another effective way to help your child combat math anxiety is to use positive reinforcement. This means praising your child for their efforts and achievements, rather than criticizing them for their mistakes. For example, Sarah was a 7th grader who was very anxious about math. Her mother started to praise her for trying new math problems and for making progress, even if she didn’t get the correct answer. Sarah's math anxiety gradually reduced and she was more willing to try new math problems. 3. Creating a Positive Learning Environment: Creating a positive learning environment at home can also help your child combat math anxiety. This means making sure that your student has a quiet and comfortable place to study, providing them with the necessary resources, and encouraging them to take regular breaks. Michael, a 5th grader who had math anxiety and found it difficult to focus on his math homework. His parents created a dedicated and pleasant study space for him and also encouraged him to take breaks and move around, which helped him to stay focused and reduce his anxiety while learning math. 4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset in your child can also help them reduce math anxiety. A growth mindset means believing that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort and learning. An encouraging teacher can help her students develop a growth mindset and help them believe in themselves. This will them put more effort into their math studies and eventually help reduce math anxiety with a visible improvement in math skills. 5. Practicing Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness can also help your child combat math anxiety. Mindfulness means being aware of the present moment and being able to focus on the task at hand. David, an 8th grader had math anxiety and found it difficult to focus on his algebra homework. His parents taught him mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. David started to practice mindfulness and was able to focus better on his math homework and reduce his math anxiety.
Math anxiety is a real problem for many children, but there are steps you can take as a parent or guardian to help your child overcome it. By providing personalized online tutoring, using positive reinforcement, creating a positive learning environment, encouraging a growth mindset, and practicing mindfulness, you can help your child combat math anxiety and excel in math. Remember, it takes time and effort, but with your support and guidance, your child can overcome their math anxiety and succeed in school.
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