Program Core 2: Student Workshops and Skill-Building Activities

This component of the CALM program is designed to help students manage mathematics anxiety through interactive, skill-building workshops. These sessions aim to foster emotional resilience and equip students with practical coping strategies, while also reshaping how they approach math-related challenges. By creating a structured and supportive environment, the workshops provide students with the tools to handle anxiety and build confidence in their math abilities.

The primary goals of this component are threefold: to offer consistent opportunities for developing anxiety-reducing skills, to teach coping strategies through experiential learning, and to create a safe, inclusive space for emotional expression and peer connection. Through hands-on activities and guided reflection, students not only learn how to manage their stress but also develop a more positive and empowered relationship with math.

Workshops that emphasize problem-focused coping include group sessions where students tackle real-life math problems collaboratively. Activities such as “Math Relay” and “Problem Puzzle Challenge” encourage students to break tasks into manageable steps, seek help when needed, and experience success in a low-pressure environment. These sessions aim to boost students' confidence by reinforcing the idea that they can overcome math-related challenges with practice and support.

Complementing this, emotional regulation workshops focus on emotion-focused coping techniques. Students are introduced to mindfulness practices, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation to help manage stress responses. Reflective writing in math journals and creative activities like drawing or storytelling give students a way to process their emotions. Self-affirmation exercises, such as mirror work or using positive mantra cards, help build a stronger sense of self-efficacy.

To reinforce learning, the program incorporates interactive games like “Coping Strategy Bingo” and “Math & Mood Match,” which allow students to practice coping strategies in a fun, low-stakes way. Peer-sharing sessions further foster a sense of community, allowing students to connect over shared challenges and support one another’s progress.

Additionally, emotional regulation workshops emphasize emotion-focused coping strategies, guiding students through mindfulness practices, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation techniques. These workshops also incorporate math journals and reflective writing to help students process their emotions, while self-affirmation activities, such as “I Can Do Math” mirror exercises or positive mantra cards, help boost students’ self-esteem. Creative outlets, like drawing or storytelling related to their math experiences, further enhance emotional expression and processing.

The program also integrates interactive mini-sessions and games designed to reinforce coping concepts in a fun, low-pressure way. Games like “Coping Strategy Bingo” or “Math & Mood Match” offer students a playful yet effective way to practice their coping strategies. Peer-sharing segments allow students to discuss their coping wins and struggles, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

Each session concludes with reflection and feedback time, where students engage in group reflections or personal check-ins using prompts like “Today I learned…” or “Next time I feel anxious in math, I will try…” This time allows students to internalize what they’ve learned and set intentions for future sessions. Feedback collected from students also helps to adjust upcoming sessions, ensuring that the activities align with their evolving emotional needs and developmental progress.

This structured, interactive approach ensures that students not only learn valuable coping strategies but also build lasting emotional resilience to tackle math anxiety head-on.