Mean Math Blues

Dr. M. Davis-Brantley

Math Student SuccessPart I--A Little Theory

Begin with a cognitive model

--borrowed from psychotherapy

--how human beings operate within themselves on the background of environmental factors

EMOTIONSTHOUGHTS

BEHAVIORSBODY

SENSATIONS

How we think about a situation matters!

“A central idea in cognitive therapy is that our perception of an event or experience powerfully affects our emotional, behavioral, and physiological responses to it.”

--Greenberger & Padesky

EMOTIONS

I am frightened by math

THOUGHTS

I can’t do math

BEHAVIORS

I avoid numbersI don’t practice

math

BODY SENSATIONS

My stomach tenses when I see numbers

EMOTIONS

Relief

Curiosity about what else I can learn

Joy with skills I have

THOUGHTS

I can do some math

I can learn more

I don’t need to get it all right now

BEHAVIORS

Take a deep breath

Write problem & a possible solution

Get help if I need it

BODY SENSATIONS

Relax

Become calm

Heart rate slows

I am helpless I am bored My brain is frozen

Stomachaches Tension Fatigue

Lack of discipline I give up I resist

Fear Anger Sadness

Symptoms of MeanMathBlues

EMOTIONSTHOUGHTS

BEHAVIORS(Students are in charge

here—not teachers!)

BODY SENSATIONS

Make changes by taking charge of thoughts or behaviors.

Valuable Tools for changing thoughts:

1) Re-Framing

2) Challenge Automatic Thought Distortions

Tool #1

Re-Framing--

Puts a different “frame” around an event

Change how you see something

(IT’S NOT JUST MAGICAL THINKING!!!)

The Effective Re-frame--

•Alters the perspective

•Interprets in a new way

•Neutralizes negativity

•Is logical & equally true

•Opens up the possibilities

Challenging Your Beliefs

• Re-frames• “I can’t” becomes “I

can do some”.• “It is hard” becomes • “some is, some isn’t”• “Only smart people

can do it” becomes• “persistence is IT”.

• “I’ll never understand” becomes “I don’t get it YET”.

EMOTIONS

I am frightened by math

THOUGHTS

I can’t do math

BEHAVIORS

I avoid numbersI don’t practice

math

BODY SENSATIONS

My stomach tenses when I see numbers

EMOTIONS

Relief

Curiosity about what else I can learn

Joy with skills I have

THOUGHTS

I can do some math

I can learn more

I don’t need to get it all right now

BEHAVIORS

Take a deep breath

Write problem & a possible solution

Get help if I need it

BODY SENSATIONS

Relax

Become calm

Heart rate slows

Analyze This!

You have just taken your midterm exam and have received a VERY LOW grade.

How will you react?

Then what will you do?

Fake it till you make it

• Feelings will follow behavior.

• Thoughts will dictate behavior.

• Self awareness is key.

• Be proactive!!!

Tool #2

Analyzing Thought Distortions—

Automatic negative thoughts frequently contain thought distortions

Feeling-Being

Mind Reading

Shoulding

Crystal Ball Thinking

NEGATIVEPositive

Overgeneralizing

Absolute Thinking

A math exam is coming up.

What could a student’s

Automatic Negative

Thoughts be?

Automatic Negative Thoughts?

•Everyone understands except me. •Because I don’t get this, I never will. •I feel like an idiot. •I know I won’t do well. •I must get an “A.” •I’ll never get through college. •I should understand it all now. •My mind will freeze during the test.

•This has happened before & I’ve done ok. •Asking questions brings understanding. •Confidence comes with practice. •I chose this class and I will prepare. •By next week, my thoughts can be clear. •Better feelings result from preparation. •I will sleep, exercise, and care for myself. •I will take charge of learning the material. •Panic now doesn’t mean panic then.

Re-frames before exam: