February 18, 2025

4 Tools to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety

33 minutes

"We have to teach our students it's okay to ask questions." — Pam Litzenberger

Do you have something that sends shivers down your spine with anxiety, no matter how hard you prepare or work? For many students, that something is math, inducing feelings of anxiety. How can educators tackle this? How can they offer support while also challenging their students to overcome these fears?

In today's episode of the Teacher Edition podcast, Jenny Copeland and guest Pam Litzenberger, a seasoned math teacher and national consultant for BJU Press, discuss the commonly experienced topic of math anxiety — a prevalent issue among students and educators alike.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Math Anxiety: Learn about the symptoms and causes of math anxiety, including test-taking stress and how early experiences such as time drills in elementary school can impact students.

Helping Students Cope: Pam provides practical strategies to support students, such as encouraging them to ask questions, engage in active learning, and use resources like www.afterschoolhelp.com for additional practice and confidence building.

Test Preparation and Strategies: Discover ways to help students prepare for math tests, from taking effective notes using PowerPoints to creating study groups. Pam also highlights the importance of teaching test-taking strategies to manage anxiety during assessments.

In-Class Support: Explore techniques for supporting students during tests, such as offering hints, allowing breaks, and managing classroom dynamics to accommodate different needs.

Pam's helpful strategies remind us that teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about understanding and addressing the needs of each student. By fostering a positive and supportive math environment, we can help students build confidence and overcome their anxiety.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God's power and grace working in you.

Go do what God has called you to do!

Resource

BJU AfterSchoolHelp https://afterschoolhelp.com/

About Our Guest

With 32 years of experience in the classroom teaching grades 3–9, Pam has a passion for helping other teachers. After teaching different subjects and grades in both Georgia and Texas, she found teaching middle school math to be her favorite age and subject. After teaching for several years in Texas, she and her family moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where she continued to teach. There she headed up the implementation of an iPad lab and began “flipping” some of her classes, resulting in steady positive progress among the slower learners. She had the unique opportunity to teach at Camp Infinity for the inaugural summer of the STEM camp at the Creation Museum. Most recently, she has taught girls’ Bible, digital literacy, and pre-algebra. She currently serves as a national consultant for BJU Press, representing the secondary subjects.