710. UNPACKING AND SOLVING MATH ANXIETY

710. UNPACKING AND SOLVING MATH ANXIETY

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin March 3, 2026 Duration: 31:29

Of all the subjects taught in school, mathematics is most certainly the most common source of stress. But what's so mind-numbing about numeracy? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Roeder to unpack and explore solutions for math anxiety.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. What is math anxiety?

  2. What causes math anxiety?

  3. What are the major impacts of math anxiety?

  4. What are proven solutions for math anxiety?

  5. How can someone support a student or child to alleviate math anxiety?

MEET OUR GUEST

Dan Roeder is a math educator and researcher focused on understanding and reducing students' math anxiety. He currently serves as Math Department Coordinator at Winston Preparatory School's New York City campus. He earned his M.S. in Mathematics Education from the University of Rochester as a National Science Foundation Noyce Scholar, where his thesis examined the roots of math anxiety and practical classroom interventions. Since completing his research, he has focused on applying it in the classroom and sharing it with educators at conferences across the country. 

Before becoming an educator, Daniel studied Economics and Statistics at Duke University and worked in corporate development at BlackRock.

Dan can be reached at roeder.dan4@gmail.com.

LINKS

Recognizing and Alleviating Math Anxiety

The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Math Anxiety

Spotlight on math anxiety.

RELATED EPISODES

MENTAL MATH AND AUTOMATICITY

HOW STRESS AFFECTS TEST PERFORMANCE

MAKING LEARNING SCIENCE WORK FOR YOU

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.


Navigating the complex world of college admissions can feel like a maze with ever-shifting walls. Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast, hosted by Amy Seeley and Mike Bergin, serves as a reliable guide through that maze. Instead of generic advice, their conversations delve into the nuanced realities of testing, admissions strategies, learning differences, and broader educational trends. They bring in leading experts to provide depth and clarity on the issues that matter most right now. Whether you're a parent trying to support your student, a counselor shaping guidance, or an educator within the system, this podcast offers substantive discussion that goes beyond the surface. Each episode aims to demystify the process, offering practical insights and thoughtful analysis. You'll hear honest talk about standardized tests, application essays, financial aid, and the many factors that shape decisions on both sides of the admissions desk. For anyone invested in understanding the journey to higher education-from students to consultants-this is a vital resource. Tune in for a consistently informative and straightforward take on an industry that affects so many futures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
727. BUSINESS VS ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR TECH-MINDED STUDENTS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
High schoolers who show advanced aptitude and interest in science and math often seem destined to concentrate on STEM in college. Surprisingly, though, many choose a more financially focused track. Amy and Mike invited c…
726. NEW TRENDS IN SAT READING & WRITING [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
While the SAT changed in a very big way during the digital transition, the exam has continued to evolve in a way that test takers need to understand. Amy and Mike invited educator Lori Goldstein to review new trends in S…
725. TAKING A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM COLLEGE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
As much as every student anticipates four or more years of perfect health during their undergraduate studies, life happens. Luckily, illness or injuries don't need to mean an end to your academic journey, especially if y…
723. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to dis…
722. GETTING READY FOR THE AP BIOLOGY EXAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited…
721. WHEN ACADEMIC PRESSURE TURNS INTO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:05
Pressure is a privilege, according to Billie Jean King, who said it's what you do with it that matters. Millions of students, however, may beg to disagree about the privilege part, and what many of them do with it impede…
720. WHAT MOTIVATES STUDENTS IN TEST PREP? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
It's been said that pain in life is inevitable, but we can choose whether to suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. How can we help learners make the right choice when enthusiasm or available time wanes? Am…
719. IEC PROFILE: Brooke Daly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:17
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Brooke Daly. Brooke is the founder and CEO of Advantage College Planning, a nationally recogn…
718. IEC PROFILE: Sarah Abaza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:37
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Sarah Abaza. Cairo-based Sarah Abaza founded Quest Consulting to help international students…