Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics tends to give students the most trouble. Your child may have already resigned themselves to “being bad at math.” Don’t let them give up hope yet. Poor math grades are often a symptom of a larger issue, and it takes sincere encouragement and a targeted tutoring approach to overcome these effects. Here’s what parents should know about math anxieties and what it takes to combat them.

How Can Perceived Skill Affect Performance?

In general, math is seen as a tough subject. Movies, television, parents, peers, and even teachers can reinforce the perceived difficulty of math throughout a child’s life. This can result in math anxiety or the fear of or apprehension about math performance. Additional pressures such as stereotypes and competitive environments can worsen anxieties. Research has shown a significant correlation between math anxiety and poor performance, meaning the more nervous students feel about doing math, the worse their scores tend to be. 

Consider how your child thinks about math. If they already feel as though they are not good enough, they are more likely to evade the subject as often as possible to avoid the feeling of failure. Avoidant behaviors prevent them from spending time practicing, which is necessary for anyone to improve. They also might hesitate to ask questions in class out of embarrassment or fear of looking unintelligent. When students receive low scores due to a lack of studying, they feel that their math deficiencies are confirmed. This results in an unfortunate cycle of anxiety, avoidance, and poor performance. Your child might think they are bad at math, but in reality, they may just be too afraid to try.

How Can Tutors Combat Math Anxiety?

The first step in overcoming math anxiety is addressing and changing the way students think. Kids often need help breaking free from negative mindsets that can cloud their confidence, so it’s up to adults to give them the right push. Traditional tutoring is often not enough to get students back on the right track. To truly stop the cycle, your child may need assistance from an academic coach. 

These professionals help kids recognize that their beliefs limit their abilities, then work with them to rebuild their math identities from the ground up. Everyone can do math, but sometimes people need someone to believe in them before they believe in themselves. Alongside professional tutoring services, academic coaches motivate kids and make sure students know they have what it takes to succeed.

Does your child believe they’re inherently bad at math? Reframe their way of thinking with the help of academic coach Kyle Simon at Breakthru Tutoring. Based in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, this private tutoring service goes above and beyond to address where your child is struggling and create customized plans to overcome math challenges. Call (419) 376-6092 to schedule a 30-minute consultation. To learn more about their transformative math tutoring services, visit the website.