“I Just Don’t Test Well”

By Natalie Thomas

Staff Writer

Do you get uneasy during math tests? Sometimes so uneasy that your performance and tests grades suffer? What you are experiencing may be math anxiety, a feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about your ability to do math. Math anxiety can be a disabling condition, causing embarrassment, resentment, and even panic during tests. Luckily for Housatonic students staff members have recognized the problem and have started reaching out to help.

On September 18, Professor Eddie Rose of the Math Department facilitated a “Math Anxiety Workshop.” Rose used the workshop to help students learn the step-by-step process needed in order to be able to solve math problems.

Rose wants to change student’s perceptions of math, hoping it will help build their confidence.

He explains, “We’ll  do this class four times, the first three are focused on the step by step process needed to solve math problems properly. The fourth class will be offering tips on how to study properly and review for finals.”

This will be the second semester that Rose is going the extra mile to help his students with this Math Anxiety Workshop., The idea came to him during the spring semester of 2014.

“Students started approaching me asking me for help, then last spring around the time of finals Debbie [Kuchmas, who coordinates programs for General Studies students] came to me with the idea and I told her I would definitely do it.”

Rose feels the workshop has proven to be a success and students that have attended have responded well.

“I have a feeling that a lot of students that attended last year will be back again this time,” he said, with a noticeable satisfaction in his voice.

If you are a student suffering with these symptoms remember that Math Anxiety is not a reflection of your true ability in math. There are a number of strategies you can use to overcome the anxiety response. Hopefully struggling students at HCC will take advantage of any of  Rose’s four workshops. His hope is that you will start to notice a positive change in your attitude towards math, and see a positive change in your grades.