Miss Masha Maths
overcoming maths anxiety
About Us
Miss Masha Maths is about supporting those who have anxiety about maths. It was born from experience of teaching maths to students of various ages and backgrounds, and finding how many were suffering from some form of anxiety about it, which was affecting their ability to learn maths or function properly with it.
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Finding techniques that have been successfully used to overcome maths anxiety has been very rewarding, and this site is intended to make these tools and techniques available to many more people so that others can gain the benefits from them. It also provides a community for discussion of issues related to maths anxiety, where people can share their experiences and what has helped them.
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About Me
Miss Masha Maths was founded by me, Masha Apostolidu-Symondson, after 17 years of teaching a diverse range of children, teenagers and adults. I have worked in state, private and overseas schools, Further Education colleges and a number of not-for-profit organisations. I have experience of teaching and coaching neurodiverse students as well as 1:1 tutoring.
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In 2024, I completed my Master of Science in Psychology at University of Derby with Distinction, receiving excellent feedback for my Masters project pioneering research in maths self-efficacy and maths anxiety in Further Education maths students. Since then, I have continued my research with maths students and have joined EEF, UCL and ETF pilot study “Can Do Maths” as one of their Expert Practitioners. I am also completing training as a Professional Development Lead in Maths with NCETM and lead a Cross Phase workgroup with London South-East + Maths Hub.
I am preparing to start PhD in Psychology and complete training in specialist teaching & assessment with British Dyslexia Association, as well as looking forward to become a certified psychometric test user and access arrangements assessor with the British Psychological Society.
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As a long serving maths teacher, private tutor and coach I have seen the challenging landscape of maths education across different sectors in the country. I understand the strains of an overloaded system on schools, colleges and families who are trying to find answers and get support. I feel strongly that maths anxiety and neurodiversity must be advocated and championed for all maths learners, young and mature, to have an equal stake in future society. In order to do that, raising awareness and true support needs to be in place. This is where Miss Masha Maths comes in...
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Publications
Johnston-Wilder, S., & Lee, C. (Eds.). (2024). The Mathematical Resilience Book: How Everyone Can Progress in Mathematics (1st ed.).
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Apostolidu, M. (2024). How maths self-beliefs affect maths performance: Quantifying the impact of teachers and individual factors on FE students’ maths anxiety and self-efficacy. Learning and Skills Research Network.
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Apostolidu, M., & Johnston-Wilder, S. (2023). Breaking through the fear: exploring the mathematical resilience toolkit with anxious FE students. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(2), 330-347. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2206704
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Díez-Palomar, J., Kelly, B., & Jarlskog, L. (Eds.). (2022). Numeracy and social impact: Proceedings of the 29th International Conference of Adults Learning Mathematics: A Research Forum (ALM). University of Barcelona. ISBN: 978-1-9161278-3-8.
About Maths Anxiety
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Maths Anxiety is a situation-specific anxiety condition which affects people of any age. Research has shown, for example, that 36% of 15-24 year-olds in the UK are anxious about maths. As maths anxiety is not always obvious it can often go unrecognised while still impacting people's ability to learn or function properly with maths.
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Previous negative learning experiences with maths can condition the brain into maths avoidance behaviours which then impact people’s choices and self-efficacy, and students' curriculum progression. Otherwise capable learners find themselves unable to study effectively and put off studying until the last minute believing that they are simply not ‘good’ at maths.