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When students think of a mathematician, they think of a white male and many other stereotypical physical features. However, many often do not see themselves as mathematicians. It is hard for anyone to feel motivated and encouraged to pursue something when they do not see their representation in that specific area. It is important as teachers to expose the students to representation in the STEAM area so that they feel like they can do anything. You can do this by showing them famous people in the STEAM area from different backgrounds and cultures, as well as read them multicultural literature and connect the content to the mathematical standards for that grade level. Finally, continuing to remind them that they too are mathematicians everyday and they can do anything they put their minds to, is valuable because it has the power to break stereotypes!
To dive more in the multi-cultural and social justice aspect of math, I worked closely with the children's book, Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes, by Rosanne Greenfield Thong as an example of how to create grade level math questions related to multi-cultural literature.
From this activity, I have many takeaways that I am excited to take with me into the teaching field. First, there is the idea that math does not have to always strictly be numbers based but rather can be related to literature. I feel as though many people make it seem like reading and math have to be two very separate subjects. However it is quite the opposite. Another takeaway is the importance of having books and activities that are multi-cultural in the classroom. I understand that my classroom is going to be made up of many different backgrounds and cultures. I want to ensure that students feel as though they are being represented and seen in the classroom. It will also allow the opportunity for students who do not share a similar background or culture to learn more about a new one and in the end become a better overall citizen in the classroom and in the world.
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