MY REFLECTION please feel free to comment below
Objective
“ The idea that even from birth and early infancy, before there’s language, children are highly socially attuned — they watch what we do and they pick up lessons from watching us. I became interested in whether they’re picking up our stereotypes, whether they’re picking up the idea that girls are not supposed to do math, and if so, would that affect their learning in schools? So, we have done a series of studies now to look at how early on children pick up stereotypes and made a discovery that as early as second grade, about 75 percent of the little girls and boys in Seattle, according to our experiment, have caught the stereotype that girls don’t do math. Before the children have even learned their multiplication tables – little girls have caught the stereotype: math is not for me. Math is not for girls.” (Devin Browne, 2017)
Reflective.
I recently heard this article on the radio on my daily drive to work. I was first shocked to hear the data due to the ages quoted, but also because I am a father to two successful daughter. From birth, both our daughters were encouraged to do what they really wanted to do in life and that there were no boundaries for them because they were lucky enough to be born in Canada. How are children are suppose to become engaged in new material if they have been subjected to hearing they won’t be good at it? It seems a similar struggle as telling someone to try a new food after saying it tasted terrible!
Interpretive
I believe everyone has their personal strengths and weaknesses. Those who are height deprived are likely not going to be better basketball slam dunkers as perhaps someone who is 7 foot tall. They may be as good at playing the game, but physically they will not be equal. As an Electrical Trades instructor I find each term a new set of students who all have different skills in math. TO be successful in learning new topics is imperative for them to feel good about themselves and their abilities.
This study shows that from as early as grade 2, perhaps even before, children are subjected to ideas prejudicial thoughts that will forever shape their learning and outcomes in life. Knowing these facts is the first step in helping shape new minds. Selecting good candidates as instructors in early education evidently is imperative for my female students to thrive. At present our field has approximately 5% females. The mandate is to increase this to about 12-15%.
I take a considerable amount of time making each student comfortable in asking questions during lectures because I know some are nervous about expressing their weaknesses. Knowing now that comments early on, likely both towards females and males may have influenced their attitude towards math and topics that are math orientated, makes it critical for learners to know they have a safe place to learn. Luckily we have enough time to bring students back up to speed and perhaps help them with basic math identities they may have missed in the past.
THE ORIGINAL POST CAN BE ACCESSED HERE! GREAT READ!
http://www.scpr.org/news/2017/03/09/69686/how-early-do-girls-decide-math-isn-t-for-them/
This is an article of the the used on the students
http://www.child-psych.org/2011/03/math-is-not-for-girls-the-stereotype-begins-early.html