Decreasing Math Anxiety Through Teaching Quadratic Equations

Abstract

Math anxiety is known as having a feeling of fear that interferes with math performance. Many students today suffer from math anxiety as they push through each developmental stage in their schooling. A majority of students develop math anxiety through traditional classroom methods, such as drill and practice, assessments, memorizing, and textbooks. According to research, teachers can help decrease math anxiety in students by incorporating specific teaching styles, methods, and strategies, related to decrease math anxiety, into lessons. These teaching styles, methods, and strategies include, but not limited to, constructivist teaching, concrete-to-representation-to-abstract model, student-centered learning, and interactive lessons. Based on this research, a unit plan was created for teachers that focus on decreasing math anxiety in students by teaching quadratic equations. The unit plan aligns to the New York State (NYS) Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and was tailored for students who experience math anxiety in Algebra I.