Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Math Anxiety? Virgil is an ESL (English as a Second Language) student who has acquired two languages in his upbringing. He is moving to the United States with his family. The entire family is anxious to learn English and the American way of life. Virgil's family is very proud of their heritage and cultural traditions. They have decided to learn English at school and work, but speak their other two languages at home. Virgil is an outgoing young man who experienced difficulties in learning mathematical concepts in his native country. He is hoping that math will be easier for him in the United States. Virgil's parents enroll him in Ms. Tucker's third grade classroom. Hearing the English language being spoken and observing his new environment frightens Virgil. Ms. Tucker decides to ignore Virgil's fearful facial expressions and allow him to be totally immersed in his new culture. She continues to teach the students exactly the way she has done in the past. After all, her teaching methods have been successful for many years. In the afternoon, when the classroom students begin to take out their textbooks with numbers printed on the cover, Virgil perceives that it is time for math. The same sinking feeling he experienced in his old school started to reoccur in his new classroom. Not only was the new language confusing, but the entire math period left Virgil feeling lost and uncomfortable. After a few weeks of math lessons, Ms. Tucker decides to refer Virgil to the Special Education director. It was obvious to Ms. Tucker that Virgil was not understanding the math lessons and he was scoring poorly on the assessments. She felt that perhaps Virgil had some learning disabilities which needed attention. While he was receiving special help with math, Ms. Tucker could conduct class as usual. Questions: 1. Did Virgil suffer from "math anxiety?" 2. What interventions could Ms. Tucker implement before coming to her conclusions about Virgil? 3. Was total language immersion what Virgil needed? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Based on Virgil's reaction to the students just taking out their math textbooks, it is clear that Virgil is suffering from "math anxiety". If something that small sets you off, then you have some form of anxiety. Before referring Virgil to the Special Education director, Ms. Tucker should have took the time to make sure Virgil is comfortable in his new environment. Moving to a country that you never been to before and having to learn a different language can be overwhelming to a child. The teacher should have also tried to help him if he needed something. If they are working on some math problems, Ms. Tucker should help him by doing one problem with him and breaking it down step by step. Ms. Tucker shouldn't use total language immersion for Virgil at first. In my opinion, I think teachers need to know some of another language besides English. The teacher can make labels written in Virgil's native language and put them all over the classroom. This will help Virgil because he will get used to his new environment and he wouldn't be as overwhelmed. After a while, the teacher should slowly start communicating to Virgil in English. Also the teacher should encourage his family to help him with his English vocabulary. This will not only help Virgil with his English, but also the parents since they really want to learn the English language.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Rated On: February 18, 2013 12:43 pm Rated By: Katy Willoughby                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Rated On: February 18, 2013 9:41 pm Rated By: Sarah Hogan Johnson                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Rated On: February 25, 2013 7:12 pm Rated By: eMypur                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Rated On: February 26, 2013 11:11 am Rated By:                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: great solution, I would use this if needed. Rated On: February 20, 2015 3:25 pm Rated By: ehaZeb                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: This is the best solution Rated On: October 19, 2020 12:12 am Rated By: usuBuQ