in math and science classes…turning boys into “good” students rewarded by teacher while girls begin to view themselves as minor players in math and science. And that is how self confidence begins to ebb.”
Finding strong role models of women trailblazing the fields of math, science, and tech worlds have yet to achieve the visibility of, say, Hannah Montana. “There are good images out there of creative, successful women but what do girls see on television? America’s Top Model? Young ladies need mentors and role models who encourage participation in these fields,” says Callahan. Chance are it is difficult to find such
role models at the elementary school level because grade school teachers tend to be generalized; not highly trained in the field of science. Most high school math and science departments are over- whelmingly male. This leave middle school, when the social scene takes center stage. “At this age it is hard for girls to see themselves as smart, pretty, and popular…a little bit of everything,” says Callahan. Girls tend to not view themselves as computer scientists. “The perception is that computer science is either a male field or a field for geeks,” says Mylene Padolina, senior diversity consultant for DigiGirlz High Technology Camps. Since 2000, Microsoft has spon- sored these summer camps for girls to introduce them to careers in the technol- ogy industry. The free camps are held throughout the country. As Padolina points out, “Technology is not just a guy thing and we want girls to understand there are a variety of jobs in tech fields… programmers, developers, and testers…also psychologists, graphic artists, and people in other disciplines.” To help your daughter grasp the pos- sibilities of a tech, science, or math field career, encourage her and keep her engaged in the math and science classes and clubs offered at her school or in her community. Early exposure is the key! Excerpted from Beyond Smart” Boosting Your Child’s Social, Emotional, and Academic Potential by Linda Morgan, released by ParentMap Books. For more information or to order, visit
www.parent-
map.com/beyondsmart.
Linda Morgan is the education editor of
Parent Map Magazine. She is the mother of two and the grandmother of three.
Local Elementary Teacher “Gears Girls towards Science”
implementing a special science program. Being the lead science teacher for four years, all I needed was this fantastic opportunity to become the 3rd
L grade Science
Specialist. Grafton is the test and trial school to see if such a program is worth implementing county wide. The best part is I get to teach Science to the entire 3rd
grade… everyday! The program was originally created to develop a strong reading program. Taking portions of two classes at a time leaves the classroom teacher with small groups for guided reading instruction, while I get to instruct 4 full classes of happy learners daily. It’s a win-win! This science program is a great success. The children are excited about the opportunity to do hands-on inquiry which is a wonderful learning tool. The students practice “think- ing about science” by asking questions and learning that ‘science’ is all around. The children also learn that working with problems and having experiments fail is a normal part of the scientific process! A surprise benefit of the program is how interested
“I have been inspired by Mrs. Roland and I think I want to be a science teacher, too.”
- Lauren M.
the girls have become in science. They carefully observe my instruction and have learned to touch all kinds of living organism without fear. I encourage each child to keep asking questions! Sometimes it is the girls in my class that are most surprised when I suggest they dig in the dirt to inspect the worms. The girls seem to be energized by the social part of science; working and learning together. They lead experiments and collabo- rate which builds the self-confidence girls often lack in science. It feels wonderful to be a role model to young girls in a male dominated field. It is my hope that all children get inspired by the world around them; to see that science is more than wearing a lab coat and mixing chemicals! The field of science is vast with many oppor- tunities and career paths for boys and GIRLS!
www.fredericksburgparent.net 19
ast summer, Mike Sidebotham, principal at Grafton Village Elementary school asked me to consider
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