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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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By India White April 3, 2025
### April Newsletter: A Month of Grit and Growth April is here, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting month filled with powerful opportunities to build grit, inspire educators, and impact students. From conferences to new resources, I’m thrilled to share what’s happening this month and how you can get involved. Speaking at MCTM’s Annual Math Conference in Minnesota I’m honored to present at the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference this month, where I’ll be diving into how to create a Gritty Thinking Classroom. In this session, we’ll explore how the G.R.I.T. framework aligns with Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms, helping educators develop a culture of perseverance, resilience, and self-efficacy in their math students. If you’re attending, I’d love to connect and discuss ways to empower students through productive struggle. G.R.I.T. Workbooks and Resources The G.R.I.T. Workbook series continues to grow, providing teachers, students, and parents with practical tools to develop growth mindset, resilience, and time management. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your own grit or help students push through challenges, these workbooks offer actionable strategies to build confidence and perseverance. G.R.I.T. Online Courses and Masterclass For those looking to take a deeper dive into grit, we’re rolling out G.R.I.T. online courses and mini-workshops designed to help educators and leaders implement grit-based strategies in their schools and classrooms. Stay tuned for our Masterclass, which will provide an interactive learning experience on how to cultivate grit in both personal and professional settings. G.R.I.T. Podcast: Conversations That Inspire The G.R.I.T. Podcast continues to feature insightful conversations with educators, leaders, and changemakers who are passionate about building perseverance and resilience. Each episode offers motivation and strategies to help you stay committed to your goals and push through challenges. Be sure to tune in for inspiring discussions that fuel personal and academic growth. Stay Connected If you’re looking for more ways to engage with the G.R.I.T. movement, be sure to check out: - www.india-white.com – Explore my work, speaking engagements, and resources - www.gritacademy.us – Learn about G.R.I.T. Academy, where we help students and educators develop the skills they need to thrive This month is all about embracing grit, growth, and resilience. Whether through conferences, podcasts, or online learning, I’m excited to continue this journey with you. Let’s keep pushing forward and building a culture of perseverance together. Stay gritty and keep striving for greatness!
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