Schoolwide News

A few weeks ago I visited the Santa Fe Public Schools in New Mexico to consult with their teachers, helping improve their math enrichment program district-wide. Before I visited classrooms, I asked teachers what their goals for my visit were, and what they wanted to get out of the training I could give.  One teacher, Maria, emailed me back, saying, “I would like help getting girls to tackle difficult math.”  I assured her this would be part of our plan, and she wrote in a subsequent email, “Part of the reason why I mentioned the girls is because you help change my daughter's attitude about math. She now sees herself as someone who can have a career in a math oriented area.  I'm so greatful.” She went on to tell me that her daughter is currently the strongest contender for a state-wide math competition.  

This isn't the first time I've had someone tell me I changed their life or their child's life around math.  When I was leaving EAB earlier this school year, a young man was selling popsicles outside the front of the school.  “Ms. Cal", he said, “I never expected to see you again!” We had a conversation, in which he told me that he is in school for engineering because of something I said.  “I never thought I could be an engineer before, but after you told me that's what I should do, it's all I wanted to do.” He thanked me for believing in him.  

I have more stories like this, where I've heard that some small comment I – or some other teacher – made that changed how kids think about themselves.  I am constantly on the lookout for opportunities to tell kids that math is for them.  I try to do this multiple times a week.  I'm sure some of it falls on deaf ears, but when a child hears this message, it can be life-changing.  

When we tell kids that math is for them, they imagine themselves differently.  Maria's daughter had the same learning potential around math before I spoke with her, but she didn't start excelling at it in her own eyes until I pointed it out to her.  For better or worse, our words are extremely impactful.  So let's find opportunities to use these words to help kids believe in themselves.  Hard work is always necessary to achieve success in any field.  How to help kids find motivation to do this hard work is what we can influence.  

So, should I point out every student's math potential as they pass through my classes?  Why not?  Every child has the potential to excel at math, and it's important to let them know this in a genuine way.  I invite you to join me on this campaign!  The next time you see a child thinking logically, creatively tackling a puzzle, or feeling proud of themselves for their work in math class, you can point out that their thinking is mathematically creative, and that they can achieve great things if they put their mind to it.  Let's see where this takes us!