Posts Tagged as "Girls Get Curves"
Yay, it’s a new math book from Danica McKellar!
Saturday, August 18th, 2012Celebration! Danica McKellar has released her latest math book for girls, Girls Get Curves!
McKellar recently did a really thoughtful interview with NPR about her latest book, which focuses on geometry. One of my favorite parts is this bit, when she talks about taking her first college math class at UCLA:
I was actually worried about taking a math class. I didn’t know that I’d be able to handle it. And here I scored a five on an AP Calculus BC exam. Talk about perceptions. I didn’t see myself as being good at math even though I was. And that’s one of the things I’m tackling in the books. But when I did jump into that math class, despite my concerns and my fears, I did really well and I was hooked.
I was like, wow, I suddenly felt valued and important for something that had nothing to do with Hollywood. It had everything to do with something that I was building from the inside out, and you don’t have to have been on television to struggle as a teenage girl with your self-image. And that’s why I know that math is an amazing tool for all girls to find themselves, to find something that they value themselves for.
Because I admire Danica and share with her a mission of helping girls (and guys too) really GET math in a way that is fun and meaningful, I’ve read a lot of her interviews very closely (and I even got the chance to interview her myself about her third math book for Wired’s GeekMom blog — check it out here). I’ve heard her talk about how doing a difficult math problem during college would make her euphoric, and her journey of becoming a math major.
But this is the first time I’ve heard her talk about experiencing math as a refuge – a place where you can incubate and develop your own abilities and intellectual strength and work “from the inside out” in a way that has nothing to do with appearances.
This vision really resonates with me — and I hope that all girls (and guys) can experience math this way.
Would you love to experience math as a refuge – even if right now, you might not be sure that it’s possible to ever regain your confidence?
Then I invite you to apply for my very special one-on-one math tutoring programs!
Just click here to get started with your special application. Once your application is received, we’ll set up a special phone call to get clear if my approach would be a good fit for your child.
I’m here for you, and I’m so glad we’re connected!
Sending you love,
REBECCA
Related posts:
Guest Post Alert: Q&A with Danica McKellar About Hot X: Algebra Exposed!
No More Girls Versus Boys
My Favorite Math Teacher Is a Woman
How to help your kids with their math homework
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