What is maths anxiety?
Maths anxiety is a very real condition, not dissimilar to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It may occur when a person has experienced a traumatic event in maths, such as being put on the spot or made to answer maths questions at speed. It is more often caused as a direct result of continuously finding maths difficult to understand over time.
When faced with maths, individuals instantly and uncontrollably experience a 鈥榝ight, flight or freeze鈥� reaction.
Research has shown that children as young as six can start to suffer from maths anxiety.
This can start the maths anxiety sequence which follows a pattern of:
- Afraid to have a go
- Not learning new skills
- Not having skills to build new learning
- Afraid to have a go.