Exploring Exceptional Education Preservice Teachers’ Mathematics Anxiety

Abstract

This study investigated preservice teachers’ levels of mathematics anxiety before and after a mathematics methods course. Changes were measured using manipulatives and other activities to make mathematics concepts more concrete and meaningful. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were utilized. Informal discussions, informal interviews, and questionnaire-guided narrative interviews were conducted. Data revealed a statistically significant reduction in mathematics anxiety (p < .001). Results have implications for teacher education programs concerning the measurement of mathematics anxiety levels among exceptional education preservice teachers and the determination of specific contexts in which mathematics anxiety can be interpreted and reduced.

Keywords

• exceptional education preservice teachers
• mathematics anxiety
• mathematics methods course