THE EFFECT OF MATHEMATICS ANXIETY ON THE ATTITUDES AND TEACHING PERFORMANCE OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS: SUGGESTED STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Nazanin S. Tootoonchi
Frostburg State University

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on mathematics anxiety among pre-service teachers, its influence on
their attitudes toward mathematics, and how it can affect their performance in mathematics
courses. Pre-service teacher education is the education and training provided to student teachers
before they have undertaken any teaching. This study also examines the nature of mathematics
anxiety, the relationship between mathematics anxiety among pre-service teachers, their attitudes
towards mathematics, and the extent to which these attitudes affect their mathematics
achievement. The study also suggests and discusses some strategies that can be used to generate
more positive attitudes among pre-service teachers towards mathematics, which can ultimately
improve their performance.

Keywords: Mathematics anxiety, pre-service teachers, attitudes, teaching performance, strategies, improvement