For teachers who fear math, banishing bad memories can help

At the start of her Math Methods course at Drexel University, Karen Greenhaus has a simple assignment for her pre-service early ed teachers: Write down how you feel about math.

The responses are enlightening — and often negative.

Students have told Greenhaus about upsetting experiences they had in elementary school math classes, how embarrassed and anxious they felt when they were confronted with math problems, and how those feelings led some to choose a major in college that did not require extensive math instruction.

“Math fear is a huge thing for teachers,” Greenhaus said.

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