Maths / Overcome Maths Anxiety
Definition of maths anxiety
An intense feeling of helplessness about one’s ability to do math
Maths Myths
Erroneous ideas that justify the fears a student may feel about maths
Erroneous ideas that justify the fears a student may feel about maths
- I must have a maths brain to do well in maths
- People are born with the ability to do maths
- Being good at calculating figures is a mark of maths success - Seriously false belief! Why do you think we have fingers to count and calculators today? Being a wiz at number does help but it is NOT a mark of a successful maths student.
- Maths is logical and not creative at all
- The most important point is is to get the right answer - No, not true! What matters most is understanding the concepts - the steps - how to get to the right answer - the important stuff in between the problem and the actual answer.
- Boys are better at maths than girls - I think in this day and age, we all know that is simply not true! The MATHS HALL OF FAME is filled with the history of great female mathematicians!!!
STEP 1
Recognize that maths anxiety is an emotional response
Recognize that maths anxiety is an emotional response
The 1st step to overcoming Maths Anxiety is to RECOGNIZE that you are having an EMOTIONAL RESPONSE to maths that is based on a FEELING and not on FACTS at all. Severe maths anxiety is actually a LEARNED EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. There are several myths about maths (erroneous ideas) that you may be believing that could be re-enforcing your negative emotional response to maths. You need to evaluate your opinions of maths WITHOUT involving your emotions. There are unconstructive (which may be damaging) and constructive ways to deal with maths anxiety.
Unconstructive ways of dealing with Maths Anxiety
Constructive ways of dealing with Maths Anxiety
See below - Taking Possession of our feelings
Unconstructive ways of dealing with Maths Anxiety
- Rationalization - finding reasons / justifying why it is OK for you to feel this way e.g. believing the maths myths (listed above). It might help you feel better about having anxiety about maths, but it does not help you get it under control or lessen it.
- Suppression - being aware of your maths anxiety, but TRYING VERY HARD to not FEEL it. You may feel that it is a weakness to feel anxious (self-criticism) and that you should NOT be feeling this, so you try NOT TO FEEL IT. When it does not work, you might feel deeply frustrated and criticize yourself even more. This is unconstructive.
- Denial - avoiding anything that has to do with maths. Choosing subjects and career paths that do not require maths - this is unconstructive because there are many rewarding and sometimes better-paying careers that have have maths in it.
Constructive ways of dealing with Maths Anxiety
See below - Taking Possession of our feelings
STEP 2
Taking possession of our feelings
Taking possession of our feelings
- What are the sources for the reason you feel this anxiety? (see "Your Maths-History" below)
- Accept that you feel this way and STOP criticizing yourself (See "Talk about it" below)
- Learn strategies to disarm the influence of Maths Anxiety on your life (See "Strategies for success" below)
1. "YOUR MATHS-HISTORY"
Begin by understanding that a fear of maths is actually quite normal and there is NOTHING WRONG with your ability to learn maths :) It can be hard to accept that this could be true, but it really is. What needs to be done now is to delve a little bit into your own "maths-history". This is a very important exercise. Please do this!
Begin by understanding that a fear of maths is actually quite normal and there is NOTHING WRONG with your ability to learn maths :) It can be hard to accept that this could be true, but it really is. What needs to be done now is to delve a little bit into your own "maths-history". This is a very important exercise. Please do this!
- Try to recall experiences or memories of maths that had the most negative impact, outcome or feeling for you - this could be with a teacher, exam, parent etc.
- On a a piece of paper, write down each experience
- Also write down how you felt at that time - what were you thinking and feeling?
- As well as how you feel now as you remember these experiences.
- NOW, on a new piece of paper, write down how you FEEL about maths right now
- Also, write down WHY you want to succeed at maths - what are the reason you feel you want to be a successful maths student
2. TALK ABOUT IT
NB! Talk about it - to a trusted friend, parents or a teacher and ask them to share about their own maths anxiety in the past - because nearly everyone has experienced it at one time or another. You can even ask your teacher to do this exercise with your class. Although this might sound slightly cheesy, it is an important step because as you talk about your maths anxiety, as well as your goals for maths you get to know your own personal barriers to maths that you probably did not realize were there before. It also helps you to see that you are NOT ALONE IN THIS. This experience or feeling is shared by many, many others. You are not alone :)
NB! Talk about it - to a trusted friend, parents or a teacher and ask them to share about their own maths anxiety in the past - because nearly everyone has experienced it at one time or another. You can even ask your teacher to do this exercise with your class. Although this might sound slightly cheesy, it is an important step because as you talk about your maths anxiety, as well as your goals for maths you get to know your own personal barriers to maths that you probably did not realize were there before. It also helps you to see that you are NOT ALONE IN THIS. This experience or feeling is shared by many, many others. You are not alone :)
YOU CAN NOW TAKE POSSESSION OF YOUR MATHS ANXIETY!
The next step is to learn strategies to help you cope with your feelings
The next step is to learn strategies to help you cope with your feelings
3. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS!
- Realize that YOU have to get the most of out of every class so make UNDERSTANDING the lesson your TOP PRIORITY
- Write down any comments or specific instructions or methods your teacher explains or emphasizes e.g. step for step procedures - they might not write down the actual steps in words, but they probably will SAY it - write down what they say about each step in the line of the maths problem you are working through - if you miss something, speak up! Raise your hand and ask them to explain it again or repeat what they just said.
- Develop a positive relationship with your maths teacher! Teachers really do want you to succeed - so ask questions, respect them as they teach, greet them when you walk through the door, say good-bye with a cheerful voice. Teachers are human and need and want respect as well. AND they have a special knack for going out of their way to help students that clearly SHOW they are determined to succeed. Use that to your advantage. If you are one of THOSE students who is constantly talking in class, smirking or mocking the teacher - then get rid of that AWFUL attitude. No teacher will believe that you are determined to succeed in maths if you will not respect them as your maths teacher.
- Homework & Self Study: Homework is for you to gain mastery of the subject - read HOW TO STUDY FOR MATHS.
- Exam Anxiety: It may not be possible to eliminate all the anxiety you feel about Maths exams, but here are a few strategies that you can use to make it much easier on you.
MATHS EXAM ANXIETY
It may not be possible to eliminate all the anxiety you feel about Maths exams, but here are a few strategies that you can use to make it much easier on you and dramatically improve your test or exam experience. After reading this, please also read our notes on how to write exams successfully.
It may not be possible to eliminate all the anxiety you feel about Maths exams, but here are a few strategies that you can use to make it much easier on you and dramatically improve your test or exam experience. After reading this, please also read our notes on how to write exams successfully.
- Don't cram! Your brain works like a muscle and it needs time to get stronger and master a skill and it also needs time to rest and recover. NO ONE runs the Comrades Marathon by furiously exercising the night before!!! If you have studied consistently throughout the term and year, you will know what you need to focus on.
- Wake up rested and alert! It is more important to be rested and alert than to study the entire night before. There is not much you can do about knowledge you have not allowed yourself time in the term and year to learn and master. Rather turn in earlier and rest well before your exam.
- Eat breakfast! The brain consumes a large number of calories and it will need all the nutrients available to perform at peak capacity. Get up early enough to eat a proper (NOT HUGE) breakfast at least TWO hours before your exam so that your stomach has time to digest it and does not make a demand on the blood supply your brain will need for the exam. Have a breakfast that is higher in protein e.g. scrambled eggs and take a small protein snack to eat before your exams e.g. biltong slices (perfect protein snack btw). NB!! Do not eat sugary stuff or drink RED BULL!!! This hugely impacts your brain in a NEGATIVE way and makes it incredibly difficult, if not absolutely impossible for your brain's capacity to think, reason and STAY alert!!!
- Remain hydrated! Drink some water before you write and if you are allowed, take a bottle of STILL water in - no carbonated spring water!
- Show your work! In math, having the right answer is nice—but it doesn’t pay the bills. YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOUR WORK TO GET THE MARKS!
- Finally, place things in perspective. Fear of the exam will make it seem like a much bigger deal than it really is, so remind yourself what it DOES NOT represent. It is not a test of your overall intelligence, of your worth as a person, or of your prospects for success in life. Your future happiness will not be determined by it. It is only a math test—it tests nothing about you except whether you understand certain concepts and possess the skills to implement them. You won't be able to demonstrate your understanding and skills to their best advantage if you panic because you make it bigger than it actually is. Place it in perspective! :)