Eric.ed.gov – Demystifying Math. A Course to Reduce Math Anxiety and Sex-Role Stereotyping in Elementary Education.

This Teacher Education and Mathematics (TEAM) module is designed to establish an atmosphere in the classroom in which students will feel free to share their thoughts, reactions, and experiences related to mathematics and mathematics teachers. It consists of an instructor’s text and student materials. The instructor’s text provides (1) specific directions for guiding the lessons and (2) commentary designed to help teachers build positive mathematics attitudes. The format is one of “facing pages” whereby the right-hand page provides step-by-step teaching directives and the left-hand page furnishes commentary that articulates a philosophy, provides explanations, and suggests psychological approaches. The “commentary and notes” page also allots space for the instructor’s use and when no commentary applies, the entire page is alloted to “notes.” Student materials include two sheets for use during instructional sessions–“Twelve Thoughts about Math,” and “A Typical Day” as well as reading material (“Twelve Math Myths”) for use after sessions. These materials are taken from the book “Mind Over Math” by Stanley Kogelman and Joseph Warren. (JN)