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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>One point concerning a student’s math
and test anxiety that hasn’t been discussed is the anxiety level of the
instructor related to teaching a subject with which they have difficulty themselves.
Many adult educators are not prepared to teach math because of their week
backgrounds which adds to their anxiety level. They receive very little or no
training for teaching math and tend to teach the way they were taught. The
majority of the instructors who participated in the 3 year numeracy professional
development program I did in my state had never had any instruction in how to
teach math. There were a number of them who, after learning through the use of
manipulatives and visual methods what a fraction really meant, reacted in a
very emotional manner. These instructors had always thought that math was
beyond their understanding but yet, they were trying to help others learn math.
At the end of each semester several instructors would approach me with “thankful
tears” for finally receiving some help. </span></font></p>
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10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Judy</span></font></p>
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10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov [mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Melvin Rice<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, September 19,
2007 11:48 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> specialtopics@nifl.gov<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [SpecialTopics 695] Re:
Productive disposition</span></font></p>
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12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<br>
>>> "Lynda Ginsburg" <ginsburg@rci.rutgers.edu>
9/18/2007 9:30 PM >>><br>
Lenny, Pam and David,<br>
<br>
I agree that many adults are anxious about math, and it often has to do<br>
with tests. Lenny, your strategy of practicing for the test situation<br>
until some of the fear subsided seems to have worked well.<br>
<br>
</span></font><font face=Tahoma><span style='font-family:Tahoma'>In addition to
anxiety there may be the possibility of a math specific learning disability. I
read an interesting article in the NCSALL publication "Focus on
Basics" on a condition called Dyscalculia. The article is available on
line at <a href="http://www.ncsall.net/?id=325">http://www.ncsall.net/?id=325</a> .
According to the article there are some specific signs of this condition, many
of which I have seen in a couple of my students. </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Melvin</span></font></p>
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font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Melvin Rice</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>ABE Instructor</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'>Kansas City Kansas Community College</span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'><a href="mailto:melvinr@kckcc.edu">melvinr@kckcc.edu</a> </span></font></p>
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