Jo Boaler: Mathematical Mindsets

Chapter 6: Mathematics and the Path to Equity

"We need all teachers to believe in all students, to reject the idea of some students being suitable for higher-level math and others not, and to work to make higher-level math available to all students, whatever their prior achievement, skin colour, or gender."

"There is an imperative need for mathematics to change from an elitist, performance subject used to rank and sort students (and teachers) to an open, learning subject, for both high-achieving students, who are currently turning away from mathematics in record numbers, as well as the low-achieving students who are being denied access to ideas that they are fully capable of learning."

Equitable Strategies
1.  Offer all students high-level content.
2.  Word to change ideas about who can achieve in mathematics.
3.  Encourage students to think deeply about mathematics.

    • "Girls, more than boys, desire a depth of understanding that is often unavailable in mathematics classrooms....to know why methods work, where they come from, and how they connect to broader conceptual domains.
To create engagement and positive identity formation:
  • Hands-on experiences
  • Project -based curriculum
  • Curriculum with real-life applications
  • Opportunities to work together
We want students "to see themselves as thinkers and communicators and people who can make a difference in the world." (Jones, Howe & Rua, 2000)


4.  Teach students to work together

  • "Group work is a strategy I regards as critical to good mathematics work."
  • "Research tells us that when students work on mathematics collaboratively, which also gives them opportunities to see and understand mathematics connections, equitable outcomes result."
5.  Give ALL students encouragement to learn maths and science.
  • Teachers need to replace sympathetic messages such as "Don't worry, math isn't your thing" with positive messages such as "You can do this, I believe in you, maths is all about effort and hard work."
  • Role models are extremely important to students.
6.  Eliminate (or at least change the nature of) homework.

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