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Rethinking Math Anxiety: Brain-Based Strategies for the Classroom

July 21 @ 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Three high school students collaborate on a math worksheet together

This interactive math workshop is designed to equip educators with practical strategies to recognize and reduce math anxiety in the classroom. Grounded in the latest research in neuroscience and cognitive load, participants will analyze how emotions like anxiety can influence student thinking and engagement during a math lesson. Using real classroom examples, hands-on activities, and collaborative planning, teachers will learn to identify signs of math anxiety and apply instructional moves that can build student confidence, deepen math understanding, and support all learners. By the end of the session, participants will be able to design or modify a lesson incorporating strategies to reduce anxiety and promote meaningful mathematical thinking.

Audience: Elementary, Middle, and Secondary teachers, Administrators, Classroom Assistants, Paraprofessionals, and Math Coaches
Length: One Day Workshop
Presenter/s: Jesse Vickers, M.S., Instructional Science & Technology
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Time: 8:30 am-3:30 pm

Outcomes

  • Explain how math anxiety impacts working memory and student performance in mathematics.
  • Identify indicators of math anxiety in student behaviors, language, and engagement during math instruction.
  • Apply instructional strategies that reduce cognitive load and support student confidence during math tasks.
  • Design a math lesson or task that incorporates strategies to reduce anxiety and promote conceptual understanding.

Topics/Schedule

  • Welcome
  • What is Math Anxiety?
  • Common Triggers
  • Case Studies
  • Math Anxiety Scenarios
  • Strategies that Build Confidence
  • Lesson Planning and Practice
  • Reflection

Teacher Bio

Jesse Vickers is a High School Math Teacher at Chartwell School, where he has supported students using a blend of rigorous instruction and project-based learning. In his 7+ years of teaching grades 6-12 (with 4+ years at Chartwell), Jesse has developed a range of Social-Emotional strategies to help his students build a positive math identity. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a master’s degree in Instructional Science and Technology from CSU Monterey Bay. He lives in Seaside, CA, with his family and two cats.

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