Math Isn’t the Problem. Math Trauma Is.

Give your students the foundational healing they need to pass their classes,
finish their degrees, and succeed in life.

The Compassionate Math approach

Compassionate Math takes an intersectional approach to tackle math trauma.

Hover each component of the geometric figure to know more about how different things can affect math trauma.

HistoryMathematicsEquity andSocialJusticePsychology
About Compassionate Math
Compassionate Math, founded by Dr. Geillan Aly, provides professional development for university faculty and instructors, K-12 school districts, as well as one-on-one consulting and student workshops in math education.

This work is centered around preventing and reducing math trauma.

Math requirements are among the biggest barriers to student retention and success, Compassionate Math focuses on transforming the mathematics classroom from both the instructor’s and the student’s perspectives so that students can reach their full potential in a rigorous yet welcoming mathematical space.

Human beings are mathematical beings. As we are human, understanding and using math to better are lives is a part of our natural selves. Just as humans have a driving need to create, we also want to understand and control our world. Mathematics helps us do this.

Dr. Geillan Aly

is a mathematics educator and former award winning Assistant Professor who received her PhD in Teaching and Teacher Education and a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Arizona.

Her research focuses on the emotional side of learning mathematics and includes how computer-centered learning has affected students’ abilities to control their learning environment and how meditation may reduce mathematics anxiety.

Dr. Aly has been teaching at the university level for over ten years and, without sacrificing rigor, brings a personalized math learning experience to the classroom through active learning methods and by centering students’ emotional well-being. She is very familiar with the Common Core Standards and has experience teaching mathematics to Middle and High School students.

Underlying all of Dr. Aly’s teaching and research is a dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice in mathematics education. She enjoys traveling, seeing live music, and is an avid chef. Geillan is also a wife and mother of a beautiful boy. They live near Hartford, CT.

Keynote speaking

“When students avoid math, they’re not just avoiding a subject — they’re being locked out of social mobility.”

Your audience has heard that math is important. They haven’t heard why their students are failing to engage with it — and what to actually do about it.


Dr. Geillan Aly brings the research on math trauma to conferences, institutions, and professional development events. She delivers engaging talks that shift how educators understand the problems we have in math class and leaves them with frameworks to foster real change.

Portrait of Dr. Geillan Aly
Research-Backed Professional Development & Consulting in Math

Compassionate Math addresses math trauma from every angle. Led by Dr. Geillan Aly (who holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Teacher Education, a Master’s in Mathematics, and has over a decade of classroom experience), programs combine deep mathematical content knowledge with proven pedagogical strategies to transform how math is taught and learned.

 

For Universities

Professional development for university faculty and math instructors. Specialized student workshops designed to alleviate developmental math anxiety, increase STEM engagement, and decrease course attrition.

For K-12 Schools

Job-embedded professional development, instructional coaching, and SEL-integrated math pedagogy for district administrators, teachers, and school communities. Designed to overcome math trauma and raise student achievement without sacrificing rigor in Title I and standards-based environments .

For individual learners (including parents)

Targeted 1-on-1 coaching to heal personal math trauma, rebuild mathematical confidence, and equip parents to support their children's math learning journey at home.

What people are saying...

Thank you for treating the audience as experienced adults who want to grow.

Participant MathFest 2023

It was a workshop full of great techniques and knowledge on Mathematics that will relieve my imposter syndrome. I am glad I attend the event because my perspective on math has shifted, and I am more confident going into my next math class, knowing I can succeed is just the methods and mindset I apply to it.

Tyanna Adolfo Student Moreno Valley College

Relevant and provocative ideas for improving classroom practice!

Faculty Pima Community College

I really enjoyed this session by Geillan Aly. It was very informative and engaging, and it gave me a fresh perspective on how I approach teaching. The session was eye-opening because it introduced me to new techniques and strategies that I can use to make my classes more interactive and student-centered. I left feeling inspired and motivated to try these ideas with my students to improve their learning experience and help them stay actively involved.

Hanaa Aljaludi Faculty Passaic County Community College

I definitely got something I can take away to improve my online instruction.

Faculty member Phoenix College

Geillan was very friendly and approachable. It was easy to open up about math struggles. Thank you!!

Jessenia Coccioli 5th Grade Teacher Union City Schools

I would say that it wasn’t actually about math, but about tips about changing your psychology around math. It was inspiring to rediscover the potential I have for understanding and being able to work though math problems and that I was validated for not being able to work as fast as others do.

Student Westminster University

It was very related to problems I thought happened to just me but I learned how relevant it is to everyone else. It shows the reason behind why math seems scary and helps work through it.

Student Westminster University

Life changing!

Student University of Arizona

A great workshop to help you dive deeper into the introspection of your teaching.

Faculty Pima Community College

You a doing a service to the inner children in us all who never knew they could be good enough so thank you

Pre-service teacher University of Canterbury

Introspective workshop allowing participants time to reflect and share what foundational skills are important for classroom success

Javier Rabelo Passaic County Community College

One of the more enjoyable workshops I’ve attended in years.

Dana Petrillo 6th Grade Teacher Union City Public Schools

A mathematical explanation to solving life problems

Student Westminster University

The session was insightful and affirming. It gave both motivation for practices, and big and small practices to create equity in the classroom.

Faculty Mount Holyoke College
Blog Posts

A funny thing happened on the way to infinity…

Alvin and the Chipmunks Experience (and Heal) Math Trauma

I was with my kiddo who was bingeing “ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks” on Netflix when my ears perked up. Not because I was excited about another reboot created by AI (as a Gen-Xer I was completely rolling my eyes), but because the episode provides insight into math trauma and a journey to healing. Here I […]

Compassionate Math, the book

Compassionate Math, the book

Compassionate Math: Book One of the Compassionate Math Series, is half compassion (work through math trauma), and half math (conceptually understand arithmetic).

Written for the adult reader in a friendly, yet rigorous tone.

Partnerships

Compassionate Math is proud to have partnered with the following institutions: