Suppress the Stress: Mathematics

My name is Nathan, and I wanted to find the connection between math and stress or anxiety, and how to do better in the class as a whole. As a high school student currently in Algebra II Honors, I find that math can sometimes be hard or stressful. So, I decided to do some research, but I knew that if I wanted answers, I had to ask questions.
Why does math cause stress in people?

Visioning success in a subject that your struggling
with like math can help you achieve that success. Do
not go into studying or even a test thinking you will
do terrible. Picture Source

The website brownmath.com provided some good insight into this idea and helped me understand why math can be so stressful sometimes.

• Just like every other subject, something can be stressful based on if you like it or not.
• Your opinion on the subject, in this case math, can very easily affect how you deal with it. Although it might seem hard to change your opinion of math, try to keep an open mind while doing it, as if you are doing it while in a bad mood, it will only make it harder.
• Math can move too fast sometimes.
• As lots of other subjects, the teacher can go at a speed that is too fast for some students, and that can cause stress while the student is trying to catch up. If you need time to either understand the idea or finish writing a certain note, don't be afraid to speak up and tell your teacher.
• How well the student understands the material.
• Relating to the last idea of the teacher moving too quickly, stress can also come from how well the student comprehends the material that he/she needs to know for the next class or the next test, or even homework. This fits under a similar resolution to the last one as in the student should attempt to go to an extra help session after school or before school, or simply ask the teacher during class to explain more.

Don't be afraid to raise your hand during a
lesson, ask the teacher if you need help.
Picture Source

Is there a proper way to study for math?
Paul's Online Notes gives some general, but helpful, tips on how to study for math, but before we get into that the student must recognize that everyone studies differently, and that some of these tricks might not work, but probably worth it to try them.

• Pay attention in class.
• Take good notes in class.
• Review notes after class
• Sometimes just looking at a packet of notes taken that day for 5 minutes can help you not forget the material and help keep it in the back of your mind. If you notice anything confusing, then mark it and ask your teacher the next time you have a chance.
• Find time to study.
• Practice, more than once.
• Keep all the homework and tests you have.
• Old homework and quizzes can be used for the next big exam or assessment to study off of.



Find time to study for math, even if its for 15
minutes a day, every small bit can help you get a
better grade. Picture Source

• Have the proper attitude and perseverance to succeed.

I thought I would provide some of my methods to studying for a math assessment and some that my friends tell me they have used, as well.

• Did your teacher make a review? Do it!
• I find that the test review made by the teachers are very helpful in the studying process, most of the time I'll print out another one and do it a second time(only a couple of days after I do the first one, though, as not to remember the exact answers).
• Make a list of things you will need to know for the test.
• Having a list will allow you to visually see what you need to study. Most of the time, it helps me see what I need to work on the most and what I need to work on the least. Then you can check certain topics off as you finish them.
• Go through the textbook.
• The textbook can have extra questions that you might not have done, so try to find them and complete them for material that is confusing you and that you might need extra practice with.
• Work with a group of friends or classmates.
• Being able to talk to other classmates or friends in the same class as you can help you solidify what you think is going to be on the test, and maybe get some help from friends if they understand certain material more than you.
• Do past homework assignments/notes over again.
• Although you have already completed them, there is no point in letting them sit there and do nothing once your done. Find the notes or homework or example problems and retry them, see if you can get the correct answer.

Again, these tips might not be helpful to you, as everyone's studying style and the way people's brains hold and process information is different. So, find the best style for yourself and use it to get the best grade possible on the next assessment.

Stay calm while you are doing math,
as being stressed can and will affect your
 performance in a negative way. Picture Source

What can I do during a math test to succeed?
Brownmath.com was also able to give some good tips for taking the test that I recommend students use.

• Try not to get stressed; if you do, there are some ways to help it:
• Breathe in and out with big breaths.
• Take a sip of water.
• Visualize a nice place.
• Move around, stretch, reposition yourself in your seat.
• Take all the time that is given to you.
• You are given a certain amount of time for a reason, and although you may not necessarily need it all, try to optimize the remaining time you have. Check your answers, redo the problem, revisit questions you questioned. Don't feel pressured by other students if they are leaving early, make sure you are content with what you left on that test paper.
• When you start the test, write anything you might forget on it.
• If you are worried about not remembering a formula or forgetting what i^3 is, then do what is called a "brain dump". As soon as your teacher places the paper on your desk, write down any formula that you might end up forgetting throughout the test. Now, when you need it, you can easily go back to the first page and look at the little cheat sheet you made.
• Try and keep your work neat.
• Having a messy solution to a problem isn't good for you or your teacher. It will make you disorganized and will have the teacher searching everywhere for the correct work for the question. Try to keep everything in line with each other or maybe show short arrows to each part of the work that you have shown.

What conditions are good to do math in and still retain the information?
This is also another subject of what type of person you are, and what conditions you can learn in. Here are some of my preferances, and some others I found by asking friends. If some sound appealing, try them!

• Listening to music while doing homework or studying for a test.
• I find that listening to good music(music that you enjoy) can help me relax a little bit more when studying or doing homework for math. It adds a little bit of "fun" into the mix if you find math "not fun". Also, listening to classical music(or music with no words and is calming) while studying can help you remember topics more, which can be helpful for a test.
• Being in a quiet area, with no distractions.
• I also believe being in a not-loud area and there being no distractions, such as videogames or netflix, can really help the student comprehend the information better and be able to focus on it more.
• Being with a group of friends to do homework with.
• Some people believe that the best for themselves is to be around other people doing the same math homework or same material. That way they can ask eachother questions if they find problems that they dont understand.

Other views will most likely vary. Optimal conditions for doing math, or really any subject, to best retain the information is and should be decided upon by the student themself.

Try listening to music while you study math, as it can help ease the stress that might come from it.
Classical or calming music is known to help retain information while studying. Picture Source

Finally, a video that I found to be very helpful and inspiring for my future in math.

I also found a video by Ben Owens, a professor of math at North Central Texas College, and he talks about some more tips for studying for a math test.