Mathematics Report Roundup

Math Anxiety

By Sarah D. Sparks — August 18, 2015 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

If parents shudder at the thought of algebra or arithmetic, they can pass that dread of math on to their children, according to a new study.

For their study, published this month in the journal Psychological Science, researchers tracked more than 400 1st and 2nd graders.

Students whose parents reported high math anxiety made significantly less progress in math over the course of a year and were more likely to become anxious themselves—but only if their anxious parents sweated through helping them with homework.

By contrast, students with math-anxious parents who helped with homework showed no similar problems in reading.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the August 19, 2015 edition of Education Week as Math Anxiety

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
The Future of the Science of Reading
Join us for a discussion on the future of the Science of Reading and how to support every student’s path to literacy.
Content provided by HMH
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Classrooms to Careers: How Schools and Districts Can Prepare Students for a Changing Workforce
Real careers start in school. Learn how Alton High built student-centered, job-aligned pathways.
Content provided by TNTP
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Quiz
Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Effective Math Curriculum?
Answer 5 questions about identifying and implementing effective math curriculum.
Content provided by MIND Education
Mathematics Can One Change in Middle School Get More Students to Take Algebra 1 Early?
Automatically enrolling students in advanced courses from day one of middle school could change their math trajectory, a new study finds.
4 min read
Jennifer Williams, center, teaches math at Tasby Middle School in Dallas, Texas, on Sep 15, 2023.
Jennifer Williams, center, teaches math at Tasby Middle School in Dallas, Texas, on Sep 15, 2023. Dallas schools saw more students take Algebra 1 by 8th grade after the district expanded access to advanced math classes earlier in middle school.
Jason Janik/The Dallas Morning News via AP
Mathematics A Third of Students Don't Identify as a 'Math Person.' Can Teachers Change That?
Most students have made up their mind about whether they identify as a math person by the time they’re in middle school, a new study finds.
3 min read
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver.
A student works a problem in a second grade math class at Place Bridge Academy, May 20, 2025, in Denver. Early experiences with math can shape whether a student decides they're a "math person" or not.
Rebecca Slezak/AP
Mathematics Q&A How Language Development Can Boost English Learners' Math Skills
A New York City math and science teacher works to leverage his English-learners' strengths.
5 min read
Illustration of a brain and math equations.
DigitalVision Vectors