How to Help Students Overcome a Fear of Math through GRIT!
India White • June 12, 2023
How to Help Students Overcome a Fear of Math through GRIT!
Helping Students Overcoming a Fear of Math through Grit
As a teacher, you may have noticed that some students struggle with math more than others. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including math anxiety and low self-esteem, but one common factor is fear. Having a fear of math can be a significant barrier to learning and can lead to students feeling discouraged and disengaged. However, by cultivating grit, you can help your students overcome their fear of math and become more confident and successful learners.
Dr. Angela Duckworth coins grit as the combination of passion and perseverance towards long-term goals.
In the context of math education, grit can help students overcome their fear of math by encouraging them to persist through challenges and setbacks. Here are four tips for cultivating grit in your math classroom:
1. Encourage a growth mindset
Dweck has taught in her work that a growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. Encouraging a growth mindset in your students can help them see math as a skill that can be improved with practice, rather than an innate ability that they either have or don't have. This can help students feel more confident and motivated to tackle challenging math problems. As you help students develop a growth mindset, present opportunities for their confidence to increase in your classroom. Include them in mathematical discourse and allow them to display their thoughts on the board as they explain their reasoning to their peers. Compliment them as you see them making gains and remind them of how their mindset has shifted from a fixed reasoning to growth and belief in their ability.
2. Provide opportunities for productive struggle
Productive struggle refers to the process of working through challenging problems and making mistakes to learn and grow. Providing opportunities for productive struggle
in your math classroom can help students develop grit by encouraging them to persist through challenges and setbacks. This can also help students develop a deeper understanding of math concepts and build problem-solving skills. It’s been said that a true teacher’s classroom is one in which the teacher is mainly the facilitator and allows students to “take over” instruction. This should be the end goal for educators, while making sure that all students have a chance to partake in mathematical discourse. As students use higher order thinking questioning stems and refer to prior knowledge along with points main during instructional delivery, they will begin to thrive through grit as they develop conceptual understanding as a result of enhancing their understanding through productive struggle.
3. Emphasize individual effort over natural talent
Emphasizing individual effort over natural talent can help students see that success in math is not just about innate ability, but also about hard work and dedication. Praising students for their effort and persistence can help them develop a growth mindset and feel more confident in their ability to succeed in math. Although it is imperative to praise students who naturally “get” math, it is critical to help students overcome their fears through scaffolding them as they give their best efforts. Dweck found that teachers who focus on praising learners on their natural intellect versus hard work actually harms their motivation and performance. Teachers are the number one coach of every learner, and learners deserve the opportunity to overcome various fears of the mathematical learning experience by developing and cultivating grit with the support of their teachers.
4. Provide feedback that encourages growth
Feedback that encourages growth can help students see mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than as failures. Providing feedback that focuses on specific areas for improvement and provides actionable steps for improvement can help students develop grit by encouraging them to persist through challenges and work towards their goals. Dr. John Hattie references teacher feedback as one of the top teaching strategies that helps students achieve significant learning gains in the classroom.
Hence, providing timely feedback is critical for students as they use feedback to help them analyze their fears and push through towards academic success.
Conclusion
As an educational leader, as you cultivate grit in your math classroom, you can help your students overcome their fear of math and become more confident and successful learners. Encouraging a growth mindset, providing opportunities for productive struggle, emphasizing effort over talent, and providing feedback that encourages growth are all effective strategies for cultivating grit in your students. Never underestimate the power of a kind word, positive feedback, and being by your students’ side as they overcome their fears in the math class as they cultivate grit. You’ve got the power to make success happen for your students; choose to them conquer their fears through grit!
References:
Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Yeager, D. S., & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47(4), 302-314.
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Hello CAMT Family, A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the session Peter and I presented on "From Productive Struggle to Perseverance." We are so grateful for your energy, your insights, and your deep commitment to growing gritty learners in the math classroom. As you return to your schools and teams, I encourage you to keep in mind the difference between state and traits . Struggle is often a state—temporary and situational—but perseverance is a trait—something we can build and nurture over time. Let’s continue to help our students shift from temporary struggle to lifelong perseverance by developing resilience, self-efficacy, and a growth mindset and time management in our schools . As a special thank you for attending, I’m offering my G.R.I.T. Workbook at a conference-exclusive price of only $15! This resource is filled with practical strategies and reflections to help students and educators build Great Resilience in Time. Grab your copy and order for your school here ! 👉 To grab your discounted workbook or to schedule a workshop, G.R.I.T. training, or educational consultation, click the link below and book your appointment today: 1) Free Consultation Appointment : 2) Book Dr. India White here : Finally, I want to take a moment to say that my thoughts and prayers are with all of Texas as you navigate the aftermath of the recent floods. We see you. We stand with you. And we are lifting you up. Let’s stay connected, keep building G.R.I.T., and continue turning moments of struggle into stepping stones for success. With gratitude and perseverance, Dr. India White Let's Stay Connected! Email: indiawhiteconsulting@gmail.com X: Indispeaknteach Blusheky: drindiagrit IG: Indi238 FB: Msindiawhite YT: Theindiawhite Tiktok: drindiawhite
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Dear Educators, Principals, and School Leaders, I’m excited to share that my latest newsletter has just arrived, filled with inspiring updates, resources, and tools to support your teams and students in building a culture of G.R.I.T.—Growth, Resilience, Intentional Self-Efficacy, and Time Management. As you plan your professional development sessions, conferences, or school events for the upcoming year, I’d love to partner with you. Whether it’s a keynote, workshop, or interactive training, I specialize in helping educators and school communities cultivate grit, equity, and empowerment in ways that are practical, engaging, and transformational. If you’re interested in having me speak at your school, district, or conference, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be honored to serve your team. You can also explore my speaking topics and G.R.I.T. resources at: www.india-white.com Let’s connect, collaborate, and inspire greatness—together! Here's the link to my newsletter to share: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_21LSLwQ/sEqABtI7pY0-Gh5vSzQnLg/edit?utm_content=DAF_21LSLwQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton Warmly,
Thank You, Nevada Association of School Administrators: Building a Culture of G.R.I.T. Together I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Adam Lane and the Nevada Association of School Administrators (NASA) for the incredible opportunity to speak at your recent conference. It was truly an honor to engage with such passionate, forward-thinking educational leaders who are committed to transforming schools and communities. During our time together, we explored a theme close to my heart: creating a culture of G.R.I.T.—not just in the classroom, but throughout our communities. We unpacked the G.R.I.T. Framework, which focuses on cultivating Growth Mindset, Resilience, Intentional Self-Efficacy, and Time Management in both educators and students. These four pillars are foundational for student success, especially in today’s challenging and ever-evolving educational landscape. We also discussed the critical role educators and school leaders play in modeling and reinforcing these values. From building trusting relationships to ensuring equity and access, educators are the heartbeat of our communities. When we lead with empathy, authenticity, and grit, we empower students to do the same—and we create schools where every learner feels seen, supported, and capable of greatness. To the school leaders, superintendents, and administrators who attended: thank you for your engagement, your insights, and your commitment to building a legacy of perseverance and purpose. I walked away inspired by your stories, your questions, and your unwavering dedication to improving outcomes for all students across Nevada. If you're interested in learning more about the G.R.I.T. Framework or want to access tools like the G.R.I.T. Workbook, I invite you to visit www.india-white.com/what-does-grit-mean-to-you ] And if you missed the session or want to revisit the message, you can also check out my TEDx Talk: The Power of G.R.I.T. Thank you once again, Adam and NASA, for giving me the platform to share this mission and for all you do to champion student success across Nevada and beyond. Let’s continue lifting others as we climb—one gritty step at a time.