Browsing by Subject "math anxiety"

The objective of this study The objective of my study was to examine what the experience of math anxiety is to teachers, who teach mathematics despite their anxiety. Based on previous research math anxiety manifests itself as an emotional and physical reaction, that hinders cognitive functions. Teacher's math anxiety can result in for example as teaching on elementary school grade, avoidance of teaching mathematics, spending less time on math instruction and as emotional concequences. However, there are many ways to alleviate math anxiety. Teachers actions may help prevent math anxiety from forming. Internalized growth mindset has also been proven to have an alleviating affect. In my research I will examin how these factors appear in teachers' stories about their own experiences. Methods This study was done with qualitative research methods. The research material consists of answers to a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. The questionnaire material was gathered using a google forms questionnaire,that was shared to teacher groups in facebook, questions of which were formed based on previous research. A follow-up interview was conduted with volunteered participants. 21 teachers answered the questionnaire, of which two were interviewed. The material gathered from the questionnaire and interviews was analyzed using content analysis and a narrative dimensions model. The questionnaire material was examined for signs of growth and fixed mindset. Results and conclusions The participants experiences of living and teaching with math anxiety aligned in part with previous research. However, the anxiety appears in broad and individual ways. The difficulties it produces both in learning and teaching are versatile. Only a couple of participants reported getting help for math anxiety. Expressions of growth mindset appeared mostly on teachers experiencing mediocre math-anxiety. Its' counterpart, fixed mindset, appeared most on those experiencing mild math anxiety. Growth mindset had helped some of the teachers to get over their hardest anxiety, and they saw teaching mathematics as enjoyable and meaningful. It is good that math anxiety is being researched increasingly, because it is a problem that can affect employment and educational level. Many are left alone with their anxiety- In the future attention should be payed to math anxiety of those studying to become teachers, so that the training can help alleviate the anxiety before transitioning to working life.