This is a very interesting thread and this has stirred up a lot of memories... In infant school and then junior school I had lots of bad experiences with maths. No kidding - by the end of my first term at school I had developed a maths phobia which remained with me until well into adulthood. I was good with my own pocket money but that was about it. I used to run shopping errands for my Mother at the weekend and for a long time I didn't even like handling this money so I would just hand over the shopping note and the purse to shopkeepers. (I was quite an innocent child so had no mistrust as I believed that most people were honest apart from people such as robbers who could easily be identified by their black masks, stripey jumpers, swag bags and evil sneers)
I eventually achieved O and A levels in different subjects but nothing in maths. One year later in life I went to do a nightclass in human biology. All was going well until a few weeks before the exam and then we were given some test papers. These included two questions relating to percentages and fractions. Just seeing these questions made me feel so anxious. I resolved that when the exam was over I would look for a numeracy class and try to beat this maths fear once and for all.
This was a great step as the teacher (who taught both literacy and numeracy) was so friendly and supportive.
Everyone worked through units At their own pace and did a little test at the end. I remember starting my first test. Initially, although this sounds silly I felt a bit sick and I began to shake. However, I told myself to pull myself together and that nothing bad was going to happen to me - I wasn't going to be punished if I didn't pass and nothing depended on this. I was only doing this to try to develop my confidence with numeracy. Anyway, I passed the test and all the other test units that followed.
At the end of the course my maths phobia had totally gone. I actually quite enjoy maths now and no longer feel the terror I once felt. In my class was one regal looking old lady in her nineties who just joined for the same reason as me - to get over a life-long phobia.I
I am not claiming that I am now 'great' at maths but I no longer get that sinking feeling if anything to do with maths crops up. I have more of a 'can do' attitude and have no more feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness about this.
As a result of my own experience, I would thoroughly recommend that if anyone has any left over numeracy or literacy issues from schooldays - join a local adult education class. Take it from me these issues can be overcome.
