Program Core 3: Peer Support Group

Peer support plays a crucial role in helping students feel seen, understood, and encouraged—especially when dealing with emotionally challenging experiences like mathematics anxiety. This component of the CALM program creates structured opportunities for students to connect with classmates who share similar struggles, promoting a sense of belonging and shared growth. Through peer-led groups, mentoring partnerships, and social encouragement, students learn that they are not alone in their fears and that progress is possible with support. Peer support helps to normalize math anxiety, making it easier for students to seek help, share their experiences, and learn coping strategies together.

The objectives of this component are to foster emotional and academic support through peer interaction, build a community of students who encourage each other to face math-related challenges with resilience, and develop mentorship roles among students who are more confident in math. These mentorship roles help normalize help-seeking behavior and create a positive environment where students can learn from one another.

The program implements several strategies and key activities to achieve these objectives. One key activity is the creation of Math Anxiety Support Circles, small, safe, and consistent groups of 5–7 students who meet regularly to discuss their experiences, share coping strategies, and encourage each other. Each session is structured around discussion prompts such as "What makes me anxious in math class?" or "What’s one thing that helped me this week?"

A peer facilitator, trained with guidance from a counselor or teacher, leads the sessions and ensures emotional safety. These meetings are held during lunch, recess, or designated CALM time slots to make participation easier.

Another important aspect of this component is Peer Mentoring and Tutoring, where students experiencing higher levels of anxiety are paired with peers who are more confident in math. Mentors not only assist with academic support but also offer emotional guidance, sharing how they’ve overcome struggles, giving moral support, and encouraging effort. Short training sessions are provided for mentors to emphasize empathy, encouragement, and how to avoid judgmental language. The mentor-mentee relationship is built on trust and is informal, fostering a comfortable and supportive environment.

In addition to these activities, Collaborative Activities and Check-ins are integrated into the program. Peer-based games and challenges, such as "Math Buddy Missions," encourage students to work together to complete simple math tasks, reinforcing teamwork and mutual support. “Check-In Cards” are used to allow students to rate how confident or calm they felt during math class and exchange words of encouragement with their group members. These activities not only help reinforce coping skills but also create a space where students can track their progress and support one another.

This component emphasizes the power of peer support, helping students feel less isolated in their struggles with math anxiety while building a supportive community that promotes emotional resilience and academic success.