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Johnston-Wilder, Sue and Lee, Clare
(2019).
Abstract
Mathematics anxiety has been discussed for over 60 years. The majority of those suffering, unnecessarily, belong to an identifiable subgroup; often identified as ‘female’, learners with a‘feeling’ rather than a ‘thinking’preference or empathisers. These learners prefer to understand the value, meaning, purpose and narrative of the mathematical tools they are required to learn. Ten years ago, we planted a seed for change in thinking from practices that engender anxiety to those that build a positive stance. This seed has grown into a group of teacher and research practitioners working to overcome mathematics anxiety and build mathematical resilience. The paper discusses what is known, by these researchers and teachers, and how to develop innovative communication in order to work internationally toward elimination of the acquired, disabling condition of mathematical anxiety.