Math anxiety is extremely common in children now in elementary and middle school. Math anxiety typically starts at a very young age, and it can carry over through high school and college. It is the reason identified for many low scores on SATs, and it is also believed to be the reason there is a shortage of math and science majors at college. This shortage even carries over to the professional field where math and science teachers are more scarce than social science teachers.

Math Anxiety in the United States

The New York Times highlighted the problem in a recent article that discussed how most students found participating on the American side of international math competitions are actually immigrants from other countries. In particular, India and China emphasize math as the basic skill that provides for growth of the professional workforce. In the United States, it is more common to emphasize reading and speaking skills as essential to personal and academic growth. Unfortunately, this means math typically gets the short end of the academic stick. Students think of it as unnecessary, a discipline to itself, and something to only be pursued if they want a math career.

Math Anxiety in Generation Y

Today’s students face a particular challenge because of technological impacts that reduce the need to learn arithmetic. Most students today have the opinion that they can use a calculator, which they almost always have access to thanks to cell phones and computers with the built-in function. They also tend to believe memorization is nonessential. For example, memorizing a formula seems unimportant if a student has constant access to the Internet and can simply look the formula up online. The result is a feeling that math is only taught in school because schools are outdated. Students seem to think they will never need the math again after grade school.

“Math as Life” Concept

One way to overcome math anxiety is to incorporate it more into basic and everyday needs. Students today, who are very in tune with the requirements of the real world, need to see how math can fit in and be useful on a daily basis. Introducing students to the idea math is a part of most careers is essential. For example, how will a student pursue a finance degree, keep accounting books or even simply verify a paycheck without a basic understanding of math? How about personal finance?

Interdisciplinary Instruction

In keeping with the idea that math is essential for life skills, parents and tutors can help incorporate a more interdisciplinary approach to math skills. Instead of keeping math confined to the math classroom, use the same math being learned in school to solve problems in science class or computer class. Teach students how their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem can help them understand how to build safe structures or even arrange furniture in a room. Never allow the same concept, such as algebra, to be taught in two classes without pointing out the connection.