Math Anxiety

1. Math Anxiety

2. What is math anxiety? • A physical and or emotional reaction to the thought or action of doing math. • Culturally based • Not a condition you are born with • Can be unlearned • Effects can be physical (sweating, pain, nausea) or psychological( memory loss, lack of focus) • Perpetuated by negative attitude • Affects ability to learn math. ,

3. Cycle of Failure Negative experience with math Math avoidance Poor Math Performance Poor Preparation

4. Myths about math • You must be born with a mathematical brain. • There is a best way to do a math problem. • Men are better at math than women. • It is bad to count on your fingers. • You can’t be creative and good at math. • You have to be good at calculating to do math. • Doing math in your head makes you better at math. • Getting the right answers is most important in math. • I don’t need math. • I ‘ll never catch up.

5. Do you have math anxiety • You don’t want to go to math class. • You are afraid to ask questions in math class. • You are uneasy about answering questions in math. • You worry that math is going to get too difficult. • You zone out in math class. • You forget what you learned in class once you get home. • You fear math tests more than other exams. • You are afraid you won’t be able to keep up. • You put off doing math until the last minute. • You lack motivation to do math.

6. Activity • What was your first experience with math? • When did you begin to not like math? • Who or what made you not like math? • What other experiences have you had with math? • Why is it that you get math anxiety?

7. Math specific study strategies • Notice your handwriting when doing math. (Does it get messier when you are frustrated) • Know the basics-learn times tables (alternate methods are fine) • Don’t memorize, understand • Stay organized • Think of math as a foreign language. • Study before bed and again in the morning. • Practice a little everyday. • Take breaks when you get frustrated. • Use all your resources. • Ask questions • Do math work by starting with the easiest problems first. • THINK POSITIVE • Move when you study. • Form a study group

8. Things that interfere with success in math • Wanting results too fast. Make reasonable time lines. • Wanting answers too fast. Some of the learning is in the process. • Excuses • Frustration • Keep trying the same thing over and over again. • Negative self talk

9. Managing Stress • Rehearse healthy behaviors • Change irrational thinking • Write out choices or options • Positive self talk • Manage your time

10. Stress Management Strategies • Breathing methods-chicken, nostril, in through nose out through mouth, breath walk • Drawing/Writing/Singing • Physical activity-walk, run, hike, yoga, tai chi • Stretch • Nutrition • Relaxation/Meditation/Visualization • Talk to others without getting negative • Become educated about areas of unknown that are causing stress. • Calm music • Eliminate unconstructive beliefs/negative self esteem

11. More techniques • Support networks • Laugh • Pets • Social support • Focus on the present • Get enough sleep • Limit caffeine and alcohol • Massage • Time outs • Accept that you can’t control everything

12. What is Test Anxiety? • Feelings such as sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach, nausea, rapid heart beating that occur when a person is thinking about a test or taking a test. It limits a person’s ability to do well on the test even though the person has prepared adequately. This is not the same as having something on your mind and being distracted.

13. Techniques to deal with Test Anxiety • Be prepared, work on keeping a calendar and improving study skills • Don’t cram • Learn vs memorize • Ask for help studying • Positive thoughts, avoid negative self talk • Take care of yourself, get sleep, exercise, eat well • Accept mistakes, learn from them • Once you feel prepared, do something relaxing • Don’t let the anxiety of others rub off onto you. Avoid those people. • Arrive to the test site early • See the test as a challenge rather than as a threat. • Promise yourself a reward at the end of the test.

14. During the test • Prevent frustration by moving on if you don’t know an answer. • Look through the whole test before you begin. • Read all directions and all parts of multiple choice questions • Outline your answer to multistep problems. • Show any steps you know. • Estimate and check answers for reasonableness. • Work on easiest parts of the test first, make educated guesses on those you are not sure about • Manage your time, don’t spend all your time on one section • Change positions • Be neat and show work • Don’t panic when people begin turning in tests • If you are taking a essay test, just begin writing • Don’t rush • Stay positive

15. If you become anxious… • Relax • Practice breathing techniques • Realize you are not alone and anxiety is not necessarily bad • Don’t dwell on the fear, let it pass • Break a pencil lead and sharpen your pencil (quietly) • Ask the teacher a question • Focus on the present, worry later • Tense and relax muscles • Remind yourself of the reward you promised yourself

16. After the test • Learn from your mistakes. • Correct your errors. • Reward yourself. • Congratulate yourself. • Note what you did well in terms of managing anxiety.

17. Bibliography • http://www.counseling.txstate.edu/resources/shoverview/bro/math.html • http://www.radford.edu/content/LARC/home/learning-guides/math/math-anxiety.html • http://salsa.missioncollege.org/mss/stories/storyReader$9 • http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/anxiety/#strat • http://www.math-anxiety.com/about-math-anxiety.html • Sedler, Michael. Stress Reduction In Staff and Students. The Heritage Institute Course Material Packet for HE401m/HE501m.