You are a Math Person: Promoting a Positive Math Identity with Students
Are you a math person? Do your students see themselves as math people? Students and teachers often hear that certain people are math people and others are not. The truth is that no one is born doing math, and everyone can get better and better at math. We also need to show students that being fast at calculations is not what makes someone good at math. Math takes hard work, thinking, problem solving, creativity, analytical skills, communication skills, and more. In short, there are many ways to be a math person. When we help students see they have many math strengths, they start to develop a positive math identity and see themselves as math people.
I’ve gathered a few resources that can help promote a positive math identity in math class.
Bulletin Board: Which type of math person are you?
Instead of asking students if they are math people, let’s ask which type of math person they are? (Because we’re all math people!)
This board shows examples of all kinds of different math people, such as an innovator, creative thinker, communicator, hard worker, encourager, and more. The visual reminder on a classroom wall can motivate students and promote a positive math identity. When we highlight the different types of math people we see in students, the message is strengthened.
Video: What is a math person?
This short video is a great discussion starter about what a math person is. Students have heard many adults claim to not be math people and have maybe thought it about themselves. By reflecting and discussing what it means to be a math person, we begin to break the myths and stereotypes.
Collaborative Sign: You are a math person.
This collaborative sign activity works great as a reflection activity after viewing the video. Each student completes the sentence, “I am a math person because…” by writing about their math strengths. Then they decorate their piece and cut it out. All the pieces form a large sign that can be hung in the classroom as a reminder all year long!
Book: Productive Math Struggle
Productive Math Struggle is a book I recommend to every math teacher. The book explains why struggle is so important to learning math. It also has a chapter devoted to fostering students’ math identity. Included are activities and ideas for creating community in the classroom and helping students develop a positive attitude toward math. By helping students view math positively, we can help students work through struggles and grow in math.
I hope these ideas help you promote a positive math identity with your students. When students view themselves as math people, they are more likely to work through struggles, work together, persevere, and learn challenging math concepts.
Thanks for reading!
-Rachael
