Are Math Therapists the New Tutors? What Parents and Teachers Think

Across classrooms and kitchen tables, math anxiety is taking a toll on students – affecting not just their test scores but also their confidence and well-being. As traditional tutoring falls short for many families, could math therapy offer a better solution?

To find out, we surveyed 202 K-8 teachers and 811 parents to explore their thoughts on math therapy, its potential benefits, and whether it's worth the investment. The results reveal how math anxiety impacts students, why teachers and parents are considering new approaches, and whether math therapy could be the key to stronger academic performance and emotional resilience.

Key Takeaways

• 73% of teachers support introducing math therapy in schools.
• 30% of teachers observe math anxiety in their students daily, 46% see it weekly, and 21% notice it monthly.
• 64% of teachers first notice signs of math anxiety in students between 1st grade and 3rd grade, and 1 in 10 see it as early as kindergarten.
• Only 31% of teachers feel adequately trained to help students cope with math anxiety; 58% of teachers had to "relearn" math to teach it more effectively.
• 43% of parents would support introducing their child to a math therapist.
• Parents are nearly 3x more likely to believe math therapy would be more effective than less effective compared to traditional tutoring.
  

Teachers See Math Therapy as a Solution to Math Anxiety

Many teachers think therapy may be a promising solution to help students overcome math anxiety and improve performance. Their insights reveal how structured emotional support could boost students' confidence and provide much-needed help beyond traditional instruction.

Nearly 3 in 4 teachers (73%) said they would support bringing math therapy into schools. They believed it could help students build confidence in learning (77%), improve math performance (69%), and enhance emotional well-being (69%). Beyond the classroom, teachers saw the value of collaboration – 88% believed math therapists should also work with parents to reinforce learning and support students at home.

Math anxiety is a widespread challenge, with 30% of teachers observing it daily, 46% weekly, and 21% monthly. On average, teachers estimated that 42% of their students struggle with math anxiety to the point that it affects classroom learning and participation. Many teachers first noticed signs of math anxiety between 1st and 3rd grade (64%), while 1 in 10 teachers identified it in students as early as kindergarten.

The impact of math anxiety extends to lesson pacing and instructional time. Teachers reported spending an average of 20 minutes per school day addressing math struggles instead of teaching new material, and 75% said math anxiety slowed down lesson pacing.

The most common math anxiety signs teachers observed in students were negative self-talk (86%), avoidance of math-related tasks (82%), and freezing or shutting down during lessons (61%). Only 31% felt adequately trained to help students cope with math anxiety, and 58% had to "relearn" math to teach it more effectively.

Parents Debate Math Therapy vs. Traditional Tutoring

Some parents are open to new approaches for addressing math anxiety and improving their child's academic performance. While many see potential in math therapy, cost and effectiveness remain key concerns.

More than 2 in 5 parents (43%) supported introducing their child to a math therapist, with 22% willing to invest if it improved their student's confidence and math performance. Over half (56%) said paying for a math therapist would depend on the cost. On average, parents were willing to spend $104 per month for math therapy if it effectively reduced their student's stress and boosted their confidence.

Many parents also saw it as a stronger alternative to tutoring. They were nearly three times more likely to believe math therapy would be more effective than less effective compared to traditional tutoring. And 62% would replace a private tutor with a math therapist if their methods produced better results

Parents most often observed math anxiety monthly (35%), followed by weekly (26%) and daily 

(8%). The most common signs included avoiding or procrastinating math homework (58%), negative self-talk (50%), and crying, frustration, or shutting down (43%).

These struggles frequently led to conflict at home: 78% of parents said math-related stress created tension, and 28% reported frequent homework battles and frustrations. Nearly 95% of parents believed math anxiety affected their child's academic performance, with 14% saying the impact was significant.

Despite seeking outside help, some parents question the effectiveness of traditional tutoring. Only 18% had paid for math tutoring, with just 7% currently doing so. Those who had hired a tutor spent an average of $426 per month for their services. Yet, 25% found it had little to no impact on math performance, and 35% said traditional tutoring was ineffective in reducing their child's math anxiety.

A New Approach to Math Support

Many teachers and parents are open to math therapy as a way to help kids build confidence and reduce math anxiety. While cost is a consideration, parents are willing to invest if the process delivers real results. As discussions around math education continue, math therapy could become a valuable tool for helping students tackle both the academic and emotional challenges of learning and practicing math at school and home.

Methodology

We surveyed 202 K-8 teachers and 811 parents with children in kindergarten through 8th grade to get their thoughts on math therapists and math anxiety. Due to rounding, the percentages in this study may not total 100% exactly.

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