Making Math Work: Growth Mindset and Math Anxiety/Trauma

Making Math Work

This month’s math strategies will focus on Growth Mindset and Math Anxiety/Trauma. Many of us may have had math moments where we felt we were not "good" at math. Perhaps you had a teacher or parent say something to you that "stuck" and caused you to believe that you were not a "math person". Inside this edition, you will find articles and videos that explain Growth Mindset and Math Anxiety. Most importantly, resources for families to build a Growth Mindset and alleviate Math Anxiety.

Mathematical Mindset:

You have probably heard people say they are just bad at math, or perhaps you yourself feel like you are not “a math person.” Not so, says Stanford mathematics education professor Jo Boaler, who shares the brain research showing that with the right teaching and messages, we can all be good at math. Not only that, our brains operate differently when we believe in ourselves.

 

Growth Mindset Resources For Parents:

Math Anxiety: What is it?

Your blood pressure starts to escalate. Your heart feels like it is beating out of your chest. You begin to perspire and feel that every nerve is standing at attention. ANXIETY! Imagine you are a student and you have this physical reaction every time you walk into your math class. Math anxiety is a negative emotional reaction to mathematics that can be debilitating to our students and interfere with their ability to learn math at a high level. Below are some resources that explain math anxiety and how you can help your child feel less anxious about math.

 

Tips and Strategies to Help Students With Math Anxiety: