Breaking Barriers: Encouraging Girls to Succeed in Math This Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate all the amazing women who have impacted the world. At Kente Academy, we’re excited to honor women who have made considerable contributions to math and show how our students can follow in their footsteps. In our previous blog, "A Year of Growth: Reflecting on Mathematics Identity and Looking Ahead," We shared how we’re changing how math is taught at Kente Academy. We’re making math fun and interactive by using technology to help students appreciate the joys of mathematics, not just read about it. This month, we want to talk about how this change in the way we learn math can inspire girls to become mathematicians and help shape the future of math.
Women Who Made a Difference in Math
Throughout history, women have helped in improving math. For example, Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer, and Katherine Johnson helped NASA send astronauts to space. These women showed the world that math isn’t just for boys; it’s for everyone. Even though women have always been great at math, sometimes people don’t believe in their abilities. At Kente Academy, we’re ensuring our students, especially our young girls, know that math is for them, too.
Making Math Fun and Welcoming for Everyone
We know girls sometimes don’t feel as confident in math because of the perpetuated stereotypes. Some people think that math is too complicated or that only boys can be good at it. But we’re changing that mindset because at Kente Academy, we use technology to make math fun, creative, and exciting for everyone, especially girls. Instead of memorizing math rules, students explore technology and see how it works mathematically to connect it to the real world.
For example, students can use computer programs to see how math can help us understand things like weather patterns, the stock market, and even planetary movements. When students use technology to learn, math doesn’t just feel like a subject to study; it feels like a tool they can use to explore and solve real-world problems. This way, girls can see that math is something they can use to make a difference in the world, just like the women who came before them.
The Power of Role Models
Students need to see people who look like them doing extraordinary things. When girls see other women excelling in math, they believe they can do it, too. This is why we make sure to talk about women mathematicians like Mary Jackson, who helped NASA succeed, and Dr. Talithia Williams, a modern-day mathematician who works with big data. We want our students to know that math is for everyone, no matter who you are.
We also have mentors, intelligent women working in STEM, who help guide our students. These mentors show girls that math isn’t just for the classroom; it’s a tool they can use in careers that help people, like solving climate change problems or building new technology. Our students get to talk to women who are making a difference in the world, helping them see that they, too, can achieve great things in math-related fields.
Looking Ahead: Encouraging Girls to Lead in Math
We’re excited about the future of math education, especially for girls. We’re planning more projects that help students explore math in the real world, like solving environmental problems or using math in technology. Our goal is to help girls feel confident about math by giving them the skills to use it for fun and to make positive changes in the world.
We also want to show girls how math can help them create computer programs or analyze big data. The possibilities are endless. By encouraging girls to try new things, we can help them see that math isn’t just about numbers; it’s a way to critique, create, discover, and solve complex problems.
Celebrating Women and Math
This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the incredible women who have made history in math, and we’re excited to inspire the next generation of female mathematicians. At Kente Academy, we believe every student, especially girls, should feel like math is something they can enjoy and be great at. Through interactive technology and exciting projects, we’re showing students that math is not only about solving problems; it’s about exploring new ideas and using math to make the world a better place.
We’re so proud of all the girls at Kente Academy who are learning, experimenting, and dreaming big. Together, we can help them build a future where everyone feels confident in math and can make an impact.
