Fair to say mathematics is not everyone’s favorite subject, moreover, the tension and worry that develops when attempting to solve a mathematical problem can be all-consuming for many people. This is referred to as math anxiety and it can have a serious impact on an individual’s self-worth. For many who deal with math anxiety, their dread of numbers takes a firm hold. And this continues forever.
It's interesting to note that math anxiety isn’t something that only affects students, teachers too can feel anxious while teaching math. When such teachers, who themselves struggle with the subject, teach students, it’s natural for students to develop math phobia. Because these instructors frequently revert to teaching solely from the textbook, relying on memorization of data, and using only drill and practice to solidify the lesson. The main cause of unproductive strain among many students is the stress of tests and exams. To elaborate--- imposed authority, disseminated instruction, and peer assessment—which are common in the mathematics classroom, are some of the main reasons why many students find it to be extremely stressful.
However, research indicates that teachers can empower students by addressing the fear of mathematics in the classroom and encouraging them to try to approach a problem differently. “Although tests are crucial, they shouldn’t be the ultimate objective. Students are more motivated once they know where all math is required, therefore the teaching approach should include daily life experiences as examples, and that shouldn’t be just read out from the textbooks but practiced wherever possible in the classroom. Basic mathematical abilities are required in daily life such as when handling money/payments, calculating time, working on dates on the calendar etc.
The idea is to make it appear as a logical subject. It isn’t something that is unlearnable, and, understandably, not every mathematical concept could be explained with easy examples, but even if one out of ten concepts could be explained in a non-intimidating way, it could be that the child will develop an interest in it.” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The JDS School, Village Mehrajpur, Distt Fazilka, Punjab.
It's quite evident that if you hate mathematics, it’s mainly because of a psychological reason and that has nothing to do with your abilities and capabilities. An excellent tip is to look for mathematics in things that you love, that will make learning much easier.
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