College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-04-28 12:34:20
Major
Middle Level Education
Honors Course
404/414
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Education
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
Math anxiety is an evident barrier to the success of students in middle school mathematics which often leads to decreased confidence, lower achievement overall, and avoidance of more challenging tasks. Research in mathematics education advocates that the instructional approaches that are more grounded in growth mindset and productive struggle can positively influence students’ attitudes toward learning and their engagement with solving more complex problems.
This project examines how researched-based strategies can be rendered into practical classroom applications. Using a qualitative design-based approach, this study integrates math anxiety, growth mindset, and productive struggle existing literature to inform the development of instructional materials. The project focuses on designing a classroom-ready toolkit which includes structured problem-solving tasks, teacher strategies, reflection prompts, and various tools that are aimed at encouraging persistence and reducing anxiety in math.
The outcome of this project is a set of instructional resources that support middle school mathematics teachers in creating learning environments that will assist with various teaching styles promote the resilience, confidence, and deeper conceptual learning that educators strive for in their individual classrooms. This work contributes to the field of mathematics education by bridging the gap between classroom practice and educational theory.
Research Sponsor
Piya Chatterjee
First Reader
Mija Trammell
Second Reader
Dr. Sarah Cooey
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Gary Holliday
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Carey, Heather, "Designing Classroom Routines to Reduce Math Anxiety: A Growth Mindset and Productive Struggle Toolkit for Middle Schoolers" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2138.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2138
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Higher Education Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons