To The Core: An Education Podcast For Parents

Episode Two: What Happens With Girls and Math? (and better yet, what can we do about it)

Dr. Megan Allen, NBCT Season 1 Episode 2

Today we answer a parent question we've heard more than once: My daughter used to love math and now she doesn't. What happens with girls and math?

We talk to Dr. Daniele Massey, the 2013 Department of Defense and Education Activity Teacher of the Year and a math teacher for over 15 years. She offers us insight into:

  • The importance of math role models
  • How language can impact a child's math identity
  • How parents and caregivers can implicitly (and negatively) impact a girl's math identity
  • How to help your daughter form a more positive math identity
  • What we can do as parents to prevent anti-math attitudes
  • Ways to normalize math conversations in the house.

Additional resources:

  • Research on girls' lack of self-confidence around math here
  • Research on girls and boys and the difference in math self-confidence here
  • Keeping girls in STEM, 3 barriers, and 3 solutions from Edutopia here
  • Connecting to a virtual or in-person (western MA) math tutor and role model through The Community Classroom here
  • Teacher-recommended math games for learning at home here

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For information on tutoring, academic coaching, or parent support services offered by The Community Classroom, please visit www.thecommunityclassroom.com