in the classroom
We never grow out of mathematics anxiety , even in adulthood
But there is hope . If we change the way we think and talk about the subject , our kids will tackle it more confidently and with better results . What ’ s more , we ’ ll produce the mathematical problem-solvers that Australia ’ s future demands .
Here are three simple initiatives you can take to alleviate maths anxiety in your kids .
The sum of all fears
How maths anxiety is crippling our kids .
By Christopher Hogbin
Forget snakes and spiders . In primary school , my biggest fear was long division .
I still vividly remember the feeling . A gut-wrenching stress triggered by symbols that refused to make sense , numbers that seemed to appear from nowhere , and concepts that were torturously abstract . I felt like the one kid who couldn ’ t , wouldn ’ t get it , desperately fighting back tears as the lesson flew over my head and the shame escalated .
Now I see this fear from the other side of the teacher ’ s desk . I regularly work with students who freeze in exams , get flustered when confronted with basic sums , or avoid mathematics altogether .
Why ? Well , mathematics anxiety is a genuine psychological condition characterised by a ‘ fight or flight ’ response to mathematical activity .
It ’ s also on the rise . According to the most recent PISA results , between a quarter and a third of all Australian students experience mathematics anxiety ; an alarming statistic in a country where STEM is consistently identified as an educational and economic priority .
It begs the question , what ’ s driving our kids to become more and more maths-phobic ?
Increased high stakes testing and packed curricula play a part , but I ’ m convinced that the real root of the problem lies in what we collectively believe about maths as a culture . Even as adults , we just can ’ t shake the persistent assumption that mathematics is impossibly hard and most of us will never be any good at it .
I ’ ve had countless interviews with parents who nonchalantly explain that they were never good at maths , therefore their children are doomed to struggle . Others insist their child doesn ’ t have a “ maths brain ” – whatever that may be .
Outside the classroom , introducing myself as a maths teacher is invariably a cue for people to explain how badly they failed the subject in high school . Clearly , we never grow out of mathematics anxiety , even in adulthood – a fact confirmed by research .
This has created a culture where maths is associated with failure and incompetence . We saw this recently when the media pounced on radio personality Jackie O for struggling to solve a “ simple ” problem live on air . The message was clear : maths only has time for right answers , and if you don ’ t have them , you ought to be ashamed . No wonder our kids are terrified .
MAKE MATHS REAL AND RELEVANT AT HOME Find fun and relevant ways to highlight the maths in everyday home life . Try some easy at home maths activities , such as cooking a meal with your kids and having them guess , then measure out , different quantities . Solve a brain teaser together . Show them that maths is tangible , real and full of curiosity and exploration .
TALK POSITIVELY ABOUT MATHS AT HOME Avoid talking about maths as if it ’ s something only select people can do (“ He ’ s a maths person ”, “ I ’ m terrible at maths ”). Kids internalise this attitude and become more resistant to learning . Instead , change the rhetoric in your home to focus on growth and progress . Remind your kids that everyone can succeed at maths , mathematical ability can be developed , and mistakes are great learning opportunities .
INVOLVE YOURSELF IN YOUR CHILD ’ S MATHEMATICAL LEARNING Take an active interest in the learning that ’ s happening at school . Discuss the subject with your kids and their teachers so that you ’ re aware of their struggles and success , and celebrate effort as well as results .
By taking these small initiatives we can encourage kids to feel excited by numbers instead of afraid . And once that happens , there ’ s no telling what they ’ ll be able to achieve . ■
Christopher Hogbin leads the global educational strategy of 3P Learning . He holds a degree in maths and science and a Master of Teaching , and has taught high school maths for close to a decade in both Australia and the UK .
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