Mathematics Tension

September 22, 2019 Educator's Corner

Mathematics enthusiasts are always being tap in school to join a contest and represent their school, so they have to be praised, supported, encouraged and be given an award. On the other hand many students have mathematics anxiety or difficulties that affect their performance in the school.
To the point where they skip classes not to attend their hated subject, mathematics.
There are many factors why students do not like and have difficulties and anxieties in mathematics. Math anxiety describes feelings of fear, tension, helplessness, apprehension or worry about mathematics. Hammil and Bartel (1995) enumerated two possible causes of difficulty of students in mathematics, poor attitude and anxiety in mathematics. And research shows that these high levels of anxiety are linked to poor math achievement, inefficient problem solving, and low confidence in math abilities.
Vinluan(1991) determined the factors affecting the performance of the students were lack of comprehension ability, in ability to cope with the lessons, lack of ample time to study the lessons, influence of peer, and family problems. In his another study on teacher-related factor that affects the difficulties and anxiety/tension of students in mathematics, poor methods of teaching, poor communication skills, lack of mastery of subject matter, teachers personality and poor classroom management.
In my experiences now a day as a Mathematics teacher some students in the high school department lack mastery of the basic mathematics or the use of the four fundamental operations. There are really many factors why students have difficulty and math anxiety that includes their past experiences. There are also students that is sharing their story to me why they are having difficulty in mathematics, one student told me that their elementary teacher is not encouraging or teaching them well, we teachers should do our part because we are not the one who will suffer but the students.
 
Concepcion T. Beray
Pines City National High School