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Dr. Cotter on Math Anxiety

February 6, 2024 by RightStart™ Math

Math anxiety can be thought of as a learned fear of numbers or anything to do with math. It results in feelings of tension and fear at the sight of numbers or math symbols, causing poor performance in math, especially on tests. Sadly, in the U.S., over 50 percent of people have math anxiety.

I once met a person who had such a math phobia that she wouldn’t do Sudoku puzzles because they contained numbers. Never mind that no numbers are ever calculated. In fact, colors can be used to solve the puzzles. But her fear was so strong that the numbered Sudoku puzzles were not an option for her.

Math anxiety often causes students difficulties while solving math problems or during testing. Part of the working memory is involved in trying to overcome the anxious feelings, rather than being available to work on the problems.

In the U.S. people freely admit they aren’t good in math, but they hide an inability to read. Europeans and Asians disguise a lack of expertise in math, as well as reading.

They believe anyone can learn math with good instruction and hard work.

A fear of math is linked to lower achievement in math, which often negatively affects a person’s career choices. There are high school graduates who don’t consider studying nursing or engineering because they can’t imagine themselves succeeding in the required math courses. They choose careers based on avoiding math. Majoring in biology is much more common than majoring in chemistry or physics, simply because it requires less math.

According to the United State Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth in the number of math-related jobs will greatly outpace overall national job growth in the near future.

So what can we do?

Facts, not myths

Many causes of math anxiety are the consequences of myths about math. Here are some myths about math and the actual facts.

  • Myth: Only certain people have a “math gene,” which they consider to be somewhat hereditary.

    FACT:
    Our brains have an area designed for math. True dyscalculia only affects arithmetic, not the other 199 or so other branches of math.

     

  • Myth: Boys are naturally better at math.

    FACT: Girls often get better grades in math. Even the slight advantage boys have in spatial ability is erased when girls play ball sports or ski.

     

  • Myth: In real life very little math is ever needed.

    FACT: To understand our natural world from the atom to the cosmos requires mathematics. Business, financial, and medical decisions involve advanced math. It is an essential ingredient of much of our new knowledge.

     

  • Myth: Having a good memory is extremely important for doing math.

    FACT: Einstein said not to bother memorizing anything you can quickly look up.
    Jo Boaler, a math professor, said, “I have never committed math facts to memory, although I can quickly produce any math facts, as I have number sense and I have learned good ways to think about number combinations.”

     

  • Myth: A mathematician solves problems quickly; they don’t need to think.

    FACT: Mathematicians look at math more like a puzzle that takes time to figure out.

     

  • Myth: A person good in math rarely makes a mistake.

    FACT: Mathematicians frequently take risks that turn out to be faulty, but they persist until they get it right. Girls may need to be encouraged to take risks and trust their intuition.

     

  • Myth: Learning math is drudgery—something to be gotten out of the way as soon as possible.

    FACT: Mathematics is a gift from the Creator and is meant to be enjoyed.

 

Solution, not problems

Another significant source of math anxiety results from the way math is taught. Some problem areas include:

  • Problem: Insisting all children memorize the counting words to 100 before doing any meaningful math. About 20% of children have this difficulty and often fall behind their grade level.

    SOLUTION: Teach the names of quantities to 10, and then teach transparent number naming before the traditional names, such as 3-ten 7 for 37.

     

  • Problem: Ignoring children’s ability to visualize.

    SOLUTION: Use appropriate manipulatives, grouping quantities in fives as well as tens.

     

  • Problem: Using flash cards and timed tests.

    SOLUTION: Teach tens’ based strategies that are visualizable for learning facts. Also, use games the children enjoy for practice.

     

  • Problem: Teaching math like it’s a bunch of rules without any rhyme or reason; such learning makes advanced math much more difficult and applications mystifying.

    SOLUTION: Teach for understanding by asking questions that require the child to think.

     

  • Problem: Assigning homework that the child cannot do independently. Too often, a person unfamiliar with the lesson tries to help, but does it in a different way confusing the child.

    SOLUTION:
      With the exception of games, homework should be done in class.

In a nutshell, math is a vast field of knowledge encompassing much of human activity and needs to be taught in a caring, thoughtful way to enable children to want to learn more. We must be extremely vigilant against transmitting any negative thoughts we may have.

The RightStart™ Mathematics curriculum was written to delight the child.

RightStart Math helps everyone understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics.

Filed Under: 2. Lessons, 3. Struggling Learner, 4. General Info, 6. Montessori Tagged With: dr. cotter, Dr. Joan A. Cotter, math anxiety, RightStart, RightStart Math, RightStart Mathematics

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Raquel says

    October 30, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    I recently pulled my kindergartener out of an online school because I could already see the anxiety coming out of her from timed tests and other reasons. I chose RightStart Math after reading reviews, research and testimonials. We are on the 4th lesson today and so far she enjoys hearing the “Yellow is the Sun” song. We listen to it at least 4-5x because she enjoys it so much! I’m pretty excited about this curriculum, not only for my daughter, but for myself because after reading this blog post, I can relate to a lot of anxiety and problems surrounding math. I’m so glad I found Right Start Math!!

    • Roberta Bond says

      February 6, 2024 at 10:02 pm

      I read your comment and I’m super happy for you. I was afraid of math growing up, had no real understanding of the concepts and I struggled the whole way through, right up to graduation. When I started teaching my own children, I discovered Right Start Mathematics. I have been using the curriculum for 29 years… I never thought one could put “love” and “math” in the same sentence, but with Right Start, I can! I’m currently working on the Geometry course alongside my youngest two kids and I love it! Have fun learning. From a math loving 60 year old! 😁

  2. Navine says

    October 31, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    I was just telling my girls today I wish as a child I had someone to teach me math the way they are taught through right start math method. I am one of those people with math anxiety and I so so happy to be re- learning math with the girls in such a practical, fun, stress – free way. Most of I love that the girls are under it why something is done so they can learn to apply that knowledge to figure out things they don’t know.

  3. Kat says

    November 1, 2018 at 11:17 am

    This is so sobering, convicting and FREEING. Thank you for presenting the truth.

  4. Catherine Pardini says

    February 6, 2024 at 11:46 pm

    I am a math lover, though was never taught to problem solve: ie, treat it like a puzzle and take risks. I started this curriculum when my sister, homeschooling 2, told me it was the best. She struggled every day in math growing up and commented that she would have blossomed if taught with this methodology. I’m excited that I get to keep learning awesome math tricks along side my kids (currently level D) and am deeply thankful to have this curriculum that won’t ruin their opportunity to love math.

    • Rachel Anderson says

      February 8, 2024 at 10:28 am

      Love your testimony, Catherine!

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