Overcoming Math Anxiety
Doing a little bit of math everyday is a great idea to overcome math anxiety. It may sound ridiculous to a person who doesn’t like to do math at all, but doing tiny things can make a great difference. It’s a good idea to do this with the types of things that you like and that you would like to attain. For instance, a person can calculate the discounts of items they want to buy so that they have more motivation to practice math. A person can also practice the basics such as their addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication by reviewing through flashcards when they have spare time or simply playing math games which can be available in many internet sites. It is prominent to utilize your resources because there is a reason they are there. Things such as going to the library, studying in groups with friends, instructors, textbooks, videotapes, and learning centers for math are resources that should be taken advantage of.
It is also important to schedule good study times during the week and to stick to it because the more you practice the more confident you will be and therefore you will be more likely to succeed in your mathematical performance. A good way to picture this is by looking at it as a savings bank: the more money you save, the more money you will have to spend on things that you would like. The same is true with math, the more you practice the sharper you will become and you will feel more at ease doing it.
Studying smart is really helpful in overcoming math distress. What I mean by this is to test different approaches that are good for you. If studying math with music helps you better analyze math then go ahead! It is important to do something that is suits your learning style. If you like learn better through hearing repeat your notes so that you can hear and acknowledge what you are saying. If you are a visual learner then seeing yourself doing math problems can help you lessen your anxiety. On the other hand, if you like thorough your surroundings, you can practice your math with items so that you can better understand it.
Taking clear, concise notes can help improve your understanding in a topic. If a person usually takes vague or hard to read notes they should take their time and write slowly. For example, the professor is explaining how to do a math problem and the student is having difficulty understanding what he/she is lecturing on. What the student can do is not only write the problem but write side notes on how the professor got to that step. They can also put question marks in their notes next to things that they don’t understand and later come back to it when they can. Studying with a person that is at their age and can comprehend the material is a fantastic way of fighting math anxiety because the person who is struggling can feel more comfortable with someone their one age since they can relate more to them.
Asking questions is phenomenal. A person shouldn’t feel dumb or embarrassed to ask questions on something they don’t understand given the reason that they are probably other people who don’t understand the concept like them. When you ask questions you are likely to better understand what your inquiry and do better on tests because you will recall the information easily since you spoke directly to the professor about whatever the topic maybe. You also will feel better about yourself because you are putting effort in to your work and at the same time you showing the professor that your are interested in learning.
Being organized and managing time can help greatly. If someone has a messy notebook and takes sloppy notes, their studying habits and how they think of math will reflect that. Usually disorganization is a cause for math anxiety. If the person has very sloppy handwriting and no matter how hard they try their notes aren’t neat, what they can do is rewrite them over when they time or type them in their computer so this way the information more accessible. Keeping lists of vocabulary, formulas, procedures, theorems, and properties can help make the person more up to date with the material. This will make them more prepared and keep them motivated for the reason that they have a sound foundation for learning. When a person manages their time they can usually get their work done quicker and work more efficiently. Math requires time and time management can prove effective.
Personally, I think that keeping a positive attitude is the most important step in overcoming math anxiety. When you negatively self-talk to yourself you provide unnecessary obstacles for yourself that take away from your potential and success. Certain things may come more easily to others than it may to someone else and that is why in overcoming math anxiety a person shouldn’t compare themselves to others. Perhaps math may come easier to somebody else but the person who is failing it, can be just as good, if they just work harder at it.
Words truly have power! When you say something to yourself and repeat constantly, you will believe it. Same is true if you say negative things about yourself. For example, if you say “I am so dumb” or “I am such a failure” the chances of that becoming a reality are very high because you believe it. If you believe something about yourself, you become it. That is why it would be highly recommended to develop positive acclamations about one such as “I will pass this course with an A!” or “I really like math”. These approaches can counteract negative emotions that can hold a person’s abilities back about with math.
It is extremely vital to attend class. If a person who is anxious when it comes to math avoids it, misses class, and expects to pass with at least a C or B, they are highly mistaken. In order for someone to succeed in a course they have to be present at class so that they know what is going on. Chances are that there will be information given regarding exams and the professor’s expectations. In addition, the teacher may explain examples that may not even be in the textbook that can be very helpful in assessing you math skills.
Lastly, it is essential to continually test oneself. Math isn’t an easy subject and it’s something that we all have to know how deal with in life. Even though a person may get discouraged or embarrassed perhaps because they forgot what 1+6 was, that doesn’t matter at all. Mistakes don’t define a person but actually make them grow. Always keep a positive attitude and try hard because that is the only way to conquering that fear. Keeping goals is great so that you can feel inspired to do your best. In overcoming math anxiety, it is important to point out that resilience and hard work go hand in hand
It is also important to schedule good study times during the week and to stick to it because the more you practice the more confident you will be and therefore you will be more likely to succeed in your mathematical performance. A good way to picture this is by looking at it as a savings bank: the more money you save, the more money you will have to spend on things that you would like. The same is true with math, the more you practice the sharper you will become and you will feel more at ease doing it.
Studying smart is really helpful in overcoming math distress. What I mean by this is to test different approaches that are good for you. If studying math with music helps you better analyze math then go ahead! It is important to do something that is suits your learning style. If you like learn better through hearing repeat your notes so that you can hear and acknowledge what you are saying. If you are a visual learner then seeing yourself doing math problems can help you lessen your anxiety. On the other hand, if you like thorough your surroundings, you can practice your math with items so that you can better understand it.
Taking clear, concise notes can help improve your understanding in a topic. If a person usually takes vague or hard to read notes they should take their time and write slowly. For example, the professor is explaining how to do a math problem and the student is having difficulty understanding what he/she is lecturing on. What the student can do is not only write the problem but write side notes on how the professor got to that step. They can also put question marks in their notes next to things that they don’t understand and later come back to it when they can. Studying with a person that is at their age and can comprehend the material is a fantastic way of fighting math anxiety because the person who is struggling can feel more comfortable with someone their one age since they can relate more to them.
Asking questions is phenomenal. A person shouldn’t feel dumb or embarrassed to ask questions on something they don’t understand given the reason that they are probably other people who don’t understand the concept like them. When you ask questions you are likely to better understand what your inquiry and do better on tests because you will recall the information easily since you spoke directly to the professor about whatever the topic maybe. You also will feel better about yourself because you are putting effort in to your work and at the same time you showing the professor that your are interested in learning.
Being organized and managing time can help greatly. If someone has a messy notebook and takes sloppy notes, their studying habits and how they think of math will reflect that. Usually disorganization is a cause for math anxiety. If the person has very sloppy handwriting and no matter how hard they try their notes aren’t neat, what they can do is rewrite them over when they time or type them in their computer so this way the information more accessible. Keeping lists of vocabulary, formulas, procedures, theorems, and properties can help make the person more up to date with the material. This will make them more prepared and keep them motivated for the reason that they have a sound foundation for learning. When a person manages their time they can usually get their work done quicker and work more efficiently. Math requires time and time management can prove effective.
Personally, I think that keeping a positive attitude is the most important step in overcoming math anxiety. When you negatively self-talk to yourself you provide unnecessary obstacles for yourself that take away from your potential and success. Certain things may come more easily to others than it may to someone else and that is why in overcoming math anxiety a person shouldn’t compare themselves to others. Perhaps math may come easier to somebody else but the person who is failing it, can be just as good, if they just work harder at it.
Words truly have power! When you say something to yourself and repeat constantly, you will believe it. Same is true if you say negative things about yourself. For example, if you say “I am so dumb” or “I am such a failure” the chances of that becoming a reality are very high because you believe it. If you believe something about yourself, you become it. That is why it would be highly recommended to develop positive acclamations about one such as “I will pass this course with an A!” or “I really like math”. These approaches can counteract negative emotions that can hold a person’s abilities back about with math.
It is extremely vital to attend class. If a person who is anxious when it comes to math avoids it, misses class, and expects to pass with at least a C or B, they are highly mistaken. In order for someone to succeed in a course they have to be present at class so that they know what is going on. Chances are that there will be information given regarding exams and the professor’s expectations. In addition, the teacher may explain examples that may not even be in the textbook that can be very helpful in assessing you math skills.
Lastly, it is essential to continually test oneself. Math isn’t an easy subject and it’s something that we all have to know how deal with in life. Even though a person may get discouraged or embarrassed perhaps because they forgot what 1+6 was, that doesn’t matter at all. Mistakes don’t define a person but actually make them grow. Always keep a positive attitude and try hard because that is the only way to conquering that fear. Keeping goals is great so that you can feel inspired to do your best. In overcoming math anxiety, it is important to point out that resilience and hard work go hand in hand
How to Cope With Math Phobia -- powered by eHow.com
