One of the most important, yet little acknowleged, barriers to mathematics achievement is the feeling of frustration and helplessness that our students experience on an occasional or, for some, a regular basis. This fear and anxiety leads to negative attitudes towards mathematics, inhibits academic achievement and limits our students choices both in school and careers.

In this workshop, we will examine what research has uncovered about the connection between mathematics and the emotions, and will answer the following questions:

• What are the unique properties of mathematics that creates anxiety? Why doesn't social studies, language arts or science provoke such feelings of frustration and helplessness among students?
  
• Is there a genetic basis for math anxiety? In which parts of the brain do people "feel" math anxiety? Can it really cause physical distress?
  
• What are the gender and racial components of math anxiety, and how can we mitigate the effects of this stereotype threat?
  
• How can we diagnose the level of mathematics anxiety in our students? Can math anxiety be seen as a "good" thing?
  
• How can we help our students work with their math anxiety so they can perform better on assignments and assessments?
  

This full-day workshop (9 am- 2 pm) is specifically designed for K - 12 educators who wish to enhance the quality of their instruction by learning how to diagnose and treat mathematics related anxieties in ways that will ensure long term success for their students. It is especially suitable for specialists working with children who have disabilities specific to mathematics

Workshop Dates

Thursday, April 18, 2013: The Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

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