In the usual
scenario in our Mathematics classes, we are usually asked to “Find the value of
X.” Not the value of your “Ex”
but the important value missing in a problem or mathematical equation. Where
X is also the presumed
answer. My X’s and Why’s aims to find some answers to the
questionsrelated to students anxiety towards Mathematics.“BAKIT NGA BA GANITO ANG MATH?”
Math Anxiety is
one of the major problem not only for the students but also for their teachers. It happens in different ages of
different people for different reasons. Mathematics teachers should understand
the causes and effects of Math anxiety as well as ways to help students
overcome it.
THE
ULTIMATE BAKIT LIST #1:
What is Math Anxiety?
Math Anxiety typically refers
to the emotional and mental distress that occurs in some students while
attempting to understand mathematics. Tobias and Weissbrod(1980) asserts
that “Math anxiety is the panic, helplessness, paralysis, and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they are
required to solve a mathematical problem.”
While Belbase, S. (2013) believes that “When one thinks
about mathematics anxiety, two things may come to his or her mind: one is
‘anxiety as progressive thinking’ and the other is ‘anxiety as regressive
thinking’.” For him all anxieties are not worthless things. He also states that
“Anxieties can be both good and worthless. If it promotes progressive thinking
(like when one is puzzling in a mathematics problem for a few days and he or
she is trying to solve it in a variety of ways without losing the passion),
then certainly it is a good thing. Anxiety is mostly taken as regressive
thinking in which a person having anxiety tries to go away or get rid of mathematical
problem simply by avoiding it and taking it negatively.”
THE
ULTIMATE BAKIT LIST #2:
What are the usual symptoms to
identify students with Math Anxiety?
§
2. Physical symptoms: Heart racing, irregular breathing, sweatiness, shakiness, biting nails, feeling hollowness in stomach. 3. Frustrations from trying to do math and not being successful. 4. Not knowing where to start with questions or never getting the right answer. 5. Confused and just wanting to quit and go home. 6. Very stressed before and during exams. 7. Begin to shut down and stop listening in class.
THE
ULTIMATE BAKIT LIST #3:
What are the common causes and
Impact of Math anxiety to students?
Most students have
had negative experience such as embarrassment and humiliation from failure, “ikaw ba naman ang hindi makasagot
sa harap ng pisara sa harap ng mga kamag- aral mo at Mathematics teacher mo
dahil hindi mo alam o sadyang mahirap lang ang problem,” teachers
who are insensitive or uncaring, negative attitudes about Math from peers and
family and traditional rote learning rather than understanding the processes
are some of the common causes of Math anxiety of the students.
Math therefore
triggers negative thoughts and memories so many students became anxious in
their Mathematics subject. Their prior experience will lead to lack of
understanding Mathematics and the concepts taught in this subject. Their
negative experience in Math affects not only their academic performance on
their present classes but could also hinder their success as they become adult.
“Millions of adults are blocked from professional to personal opportunities
because they fear or perform poorly in mathematics.” (Tobias, S.1993)
THE ULTIMATE
SAGOT SA ULTIMATE KATANUNGAN: #COMEBACKisREAL
How can we help students overcome their Math anxiety?
As an educator,
we play a vital role in helping the students to learn not only their academic
subjects but we also contributed to the factors of the students’ success. Their
learning experiences helps them to be more encourage or discourage in learning
a specific area or subjects. So as their teacher, we need to put ourselves in
our students’ shoes, and remember what it was like to struggle with understanding
new concept, “naging
estudyante din naman tayo bago naging teacher.” We are also
responsible in creating a positive classroom environment that can make students
feel high level of success,
let us try not to make students’ life miserable. Their incorrect
responses should be handled in a positive way to encourage their participation
in class and develop their self-esteem. Let them fail once in order for them
to strive harder to be successful. We should give emphasis on the process and let
them think critically than focusing if the answer is correct or wrong, simply not just knowledge.
We should consider using different strategies and catering their multiple
intelligences to help them enjoy and keep their interest in your lesson. Let us also try to be creative and
think of a way on how to make every lesson discussion in mathematics more fun,
enjoyable, and more meaningful for the students.
The greatest
prevention or way to overcome Math anxiety is the teacher himself. “Teacher mismo ang madalas may problema,
remember the classifications/kinds of teachers na lang.” The teacher
should believe in the students even if they
do not believe to
themselves. Students should be encourage to solve lots of “X’s” or problems in their Mathematics
classes. And let them know that the more “X’s” or problem they solve, the more successful they’ll become in the future.
#VALUEofThisBLOG
- AL JERICK R. SANTOS
