This week, we looked at anxieties surrounding math, math stereotypes/myths, breaking stigmas existing around being a "math person," math and gender as well as math portrayed in social media.
Why is math anxiety such a real struggle in today's classroom? And how, as educators, can we help change this stigma and make math exciting, available to all and teach students that everyone has the innate ability to be a "math person."
Firstly, it starts in the classroom and the environment we create. No student wants to learn and take-risks in a classroom that is unsupportive, judgemental, overly-critical and shuts down different thought processes and ideas. While there are definitive answers in math, there are ways we as educators can stop saying "No" or "Yes", "Right" or "Wrong." Instead, we could try phrases like, "I see what you're saying, what an interesting way of getting there. Are there any other ways you could try?" Validate students' ideas, even if they seem completely "wrong." This will only inspire them to keep trying, take-risks and not fear making mistakes in the future. The more we can get our students to try in math, the higher chance we have of improving their success. Ultimately, math is a mindset, and we need to teach our students the value of making mistakes and struggling through the challenges to come to a solution!
Secondly, make "mistake-making" part of your classroom code of conduct and expectations. We expect our students to make mistakes, and they can expect us as educators to make mistakes as well. Allow mistakes to be appreciated and valued and help to create strategies in order to solve for the correct answer. Take the time to embrace each student's thinking process and the mistakes, messiness and chaos that the mathematical process embodies!
Lastly, using inquiry-based lessons and self-discovery, we can hopefully engage all students to recognize that they are all 'math students.' When students learn for themselves, their understanding deepens! Making math an explorative practice by using collaborative group work, guided instruction and self-discovery, we can aim to reach every student!
This video really resonated with me because I couldn't believe how social media portrays math! I was shocked – if this is what students are hearing about math, then how can we expect them to act any different or feel different ways about it? If being good at math makes them a 'nerd' or flunking math is 'cool' or 'expected' then this is what they begin to manifest themselves. We need to discuss math in a positive light. Even if you dislike math as a teacher, don't let this bias rub off on your students.
Another concept I would like to further discuss is from Jo Boaler's video about being a 'math person.' In this video, she states that if you work hard and practice math, you can become better at it – WOW!
Who would have thought?
Growing up, I was never once told this, nor did I make this connection. Yet, it seems like common sense. If you want to become a better reader – practice reading! I would read every night before bed or have my mom read novels to me. Did I ever practice math questions before bed? Absolutely not. If you want to be a better soccer player, practice like crazy! You should be on the field everyday practicing your ball-handling skills. So why have we not made this connection to learning and developing math skills sooner?
Considering this revolutionary idea, how can we incorporate this mindset into our classrooms now knowing this? I know this will be something I will take with me going forward as an educator.
Anyways, I found these videos to be a great introduction in reminding us the challenges that lay within teaching math to our students. As I have gotten much more confident teaching math through my experiences, I still want to be a teacher who inspires students in math and reminds them it is a useful and powerful tool! Showing students these clips and having a discussion about them may be a good introduction to a math class and may open up a door that allows students to ask questions and feel comfortable doing so!
Check back in next week to see what other math concepts I will discuss. Feel free to share any ideas or experiences you have had in regards to math anxieties and stereotypes!
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