How to Combat Math Anxiety

How did it become commonplace for so many people to claim, "I'm not good at math?" And what about the young child who says, "I hate math?" Already... why?

Does this child really despise the concept of counting change for a purchase at the candy store, or the exciting moment of measuring his/her height on the wall each month? Or is this anti-math stance simply a product of the child's environment? Are parents and society telling kids that hating math is acceptable?

Maybe it's not intentional, yet kids absorb the views of their parents, teachers, and authority figures. If they are receiving negative feedback on math, kids are apt to adopt the same views.

It's called math anxiety, and it is plaguing generations of Americans, negatively affecting our youth. Defined by Tobias and Weissbrod in 1980, math anxiety is the panic, helplessness, paralysis, and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they are required to solve a mathematical problem.¹ It's an emotional response to math based on a past unpleasant experience which harms future learning.

So catch yourself the next time you say, "I'm not good with numbers." Even if what you're stating is how you feel from your own experience, it doesn't mean your kids will have the same experience. And parents certainly don't want to set their kids up for the same experience, especially if it was negative.

It's important for parents to help develop kids' confidence in their own abilities. We want them to believe they can do anything when they grow up! If we want our kids' attitudes toward math to change, parents and other influential figures may have to change their attitudes too. Or at the very least, be overly conscious and stop ourselves from saying, "I'm not good at math."

But there are also more proactive steps we can take to prevent math anxiety. Talking with kids about negative self-talk is also important. And though it seems obvious, being prepared is huge. Make sure your kids ask a lot of questions if they don't understand a math concept or procedure (in and outside the classroom), and get answers right away (to minimize the time they spend feeling they don't understand it).

It's also important for kids not to rely on memorization alone, but to make sure they "get it." Find ways to practice math as a part of daily life, just as many families incorporate reading activities. Studies have shown that students learn best when they're active rather than passive learners. To learn mathematics, students must be engaged in exploring, conjecturing, and thinking rather than engaged only in rote learning of rules and procedures.²

Parents can help create opportunities to teach thought-provoking math at home. For example, "How tall is that tree?" presents an interesting problem because it is too tall to measure. You might mention, "You know, I'm six feet tall. How does that help you think about the height of the tree?" As children explore problem solving with you, knowing that you're listening and willing to hear their ideas, it will help them gain confidence.³

Resources
Want to learn more about math anxiety? See:

• The Causes and Prevention of Math Anxiety: http://www.mathgoodies.com/articles/math_anxiety.html
• Coping with Math Anxiety: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/anxiety/
• Washington Post's story on the Nat'l Math Advisory Panel: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031301492_pf.html

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1. Haralson, Kay (2002). Math Anxiety: Myth or Monster. Clarksville, TN. Austin Peay State University.

2. Hopko, D., Ashcraft, J., Ruggiero, K., & Lewis, C. (1998) Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Vol. 12, Issue 4, "Mathematics Anxiety and Working Memory: Support for the Existence of a Deficient Inhibition Mechanism."

3. Duckworth, E. (1987). The Having of Wonderful Ideas and Other Essays on Teaching and Learning. New York: Teacher's College Press.

Math Learning Tips for Busy Parents

At DreamBox Learning, we know parents want to be involved with their children's learning. As a regular feature, we include simple games parents can play with their young children, even during everyday activities.

Want to play a fun game that helps young children learn and practice basic addition and subtraction facts? It's the Bag of Beans Game — and there are many different ways to play, so the game can get more challenging as the players get better at it!

Two players can start with 20 beans in a small paper bag. One player reaches into the bag and grabs a handful of beans. The second player grabs the remaining beans, counts them, and names the number of beans the first player has.

Want to play a different way? Two players start with 20 beans in the bag. One player reaches into the bag and grabs a handful of beans. The second player grabs a handful of beans, but not all of them. Player one counts and names the number of beans he/she grabbed, then player two does the same. Player one then does mental math to add those numbers together, and names the number of beans remaining in the bag.

Or you can start with 30 or 40 beans. Each player grabs two handfuls of beans, with the last player taking all of the beans. The first player counts and names the number of beans in one hand, then adds them to the number in the other hand. Then the second player names the number of beans in one hand, and player one must name the remaining number of beans in player two's other hand.

You can also vary the game by playing with a different total number of beans.

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Try the Newest Version of DreamBox Learning K-2 Math

DreamBox is currently inviting new students to participate in the private beta program for DreamBox Learning K-2 Math. This beta now includes the 2nd grade curriculum, and there are over 100 lessons at each grade level. DreamBox Learning is solid math wrapped in fun web-based adventures that kids love! And they'll be learning the math that's vital to their future.

If you're currently a DreamBox beta user you don't need to sign up again — just log in as you have in the past!

If you are interested in signing up your Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade child(ren) for this beta, please click here. You'll discover the many cool ways DreamBox Learning helps your child have some serious fun learning math! For example:

• An initial placement lesson and ongoing assessment ensure that your child starts at the optimum point in the curriculum, and continually gets the right lessons at the right time.
• All aspects of the experience are adapted for each child—including the lessons, hints and instructional feedback, the pace, sequence, and much more—to help your child to feel engaged, motivated, and successful.
• All of the lessons cover the key concepts from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics-recommended curriculum for each grade level.
• And, parents get progress report emails, tips for fun home activities, and an online "Dashboard".

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Want to learn more about DreamBox Learning's point of view? Read our blog!

Check out recent posts on DreamBox Learning's "Top Educational Toys for the Holidays". Watch a hilarious Ma & Pa Kettle video in "Never Underestimate the Value of Place Value!". Or read our ranking of the "Top Eight Educational Blogs". http://www.dreambox.com/blog/.