Problem - Solving
Ultimately, one of the greatest values of mathematics, is
what it teaches us about problem-solving. And no matter what we choose to do or
study in life, problems are a part of it. 
Students who suffer from math anxiety are very uncomfortable with problem-solving. Often, this is because they are certain there is one right way, and they "just don't have it."
You can help them by problem-solving with them, and showing them a different approach. It can be very helpful to encourage your child to talk his way through a problem, even if it's very, VERY roundabout. Try not to rush, or guide. Let him feel that there is no one way to get there, and that the most direct way isn't the only way - or even the best way. Some of the greatest discoveries came about from a 'wrong turn,' or a roundabout route. And surely, for most of us, understanding the best way comes from having taken the long way 'round.
Let your child feel his way into and through a problem. You can replace anxiety with greater comfort, simply by replacing the attitude and experience of problem-solving.
We have worked with many students who face the same problem. When we ask them to explain their thinking, they are anxious, and their explanation can be very "roundabout," but we have watched their confidence build as they realize that they can find their way by thinking - that the answer is in them, and they can take their time to get there.
Too many assume there is some magic formula to understanding, and they just don't have it. We can show them that there is no magic formula, and they do have what they need, right between their ears. We encourage and praise the process along the way, letting our students see that it's the thinking that gets you there, not the quick 'flash' of a right answer. Students then develop a belief that they can do it, pride in their methods, and a desire to strengthen the methods. It's an equation that works, because it rests on their thinking power, and not on some external "gift."
For more suggestions on helping students reduce math anxiety, with stories of real kids who changed their approach, listen to Suzanne's audiocassette series: How to Help...
