Program Core 4: Teacher Training and Instructional Resources

Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping how students perceive and experience mathematics. Their words, tone, strategies, and classroom environment can either alleviate or unintentionally worsen math anxiety. This component of the CALM program is designed to empower teachers with the knowledge, tools, and practical strategies they need to recognize signs of anxiety, respond with empathy, and create a learning space where all students—especially those who struggle—feel safe, supported, and capable. By equipping teachers with the right resources and approaches, the program seeks to create an environment where students can thrive, regardless of their math anxiety.

The objectives of this component are to help teachers recognize the behavioral and emotional signs of mathematics anxiety, provide training on effective instructional strategies that promote confidence and reduce classroom pressure, and equip teachers with resources and flexible tools they can integrate into their lessons. By focusing on both understanding the nature of math anxiety and adopting supportive teaching strategies, teachers can make a significant difference in how students experience math.

Key activities and strategies are outlined to support teachers in these goals. The first strategy involves Teacher Orientation and Awareness Sessions, which include professional development workshops that focus on the nature, symptoms, and academic effects of math anxiety.

These workshops will include real data from the school’s MARS results, giving teachers specific insights into how their students are affected. Examples of classroom interactions that may either support or unintentionally trigger anxiety are also shared to raise awareness of how certain practices or language may impact students.

The CALM Teacher Toolkit Distribution is another critical activity, where each teacher receives a toolkit that includes quick-reference materials on signs of anxiety in student behavior, phrases that promote a growth mindset and reduce pressure, templates for constructive feedback and praise, flexible assessment suggestions (such as oral explanations, group tasks, or checklists), and strategies for encouraging participation without putting students on the spot. This toolkit is a practical resource designed to make it easier for teachers to incorporate anxiety-sensitive practices into their classrooms.

In the classroom, the program emphasizes Classroom Strategy Implementation. Teachers are encouraged to adopt anxiety-sensitive practices such as giving students think time before calling on them, allowing alternative ways to participate (e.g., written responses or paired sharing), using math journaling for self-reflection and goal-setting, and displaying visual affirmations (e.g., “Mistakes help me grow”). These practices aim to reduce the pressure students feel during math lessons and create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. The use of collaborative learning over competitive formats is also encouraged to foster a sense of community and teamwork rather than stress.

Finally, Ongoing Support and Peer Sharing are integral to this component. Quarterly teacher debriefs or sharing sessions allow teachers to discuss challenges, share successful strategies, and refine their approaches. A feedback system is also in place where teachers can request more resources or suggest improvements, ensuring continuous support and growth within the program.

Through this component, the CALM program strives to provide teachers with the tools and understanding necessary to create an environment where math anxiety is minimized and all students feel capable of succeeding in math.