Girls from three elementary schools in Buffalo New York will hone their math skills at a summer camp made possible by a Cullen Foundation Grant and by the research of Ji-Won Son, assistant professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Professor Son seeks ways to narrow the gap of math achievement for certain racial and economic groups, and the Cullen Foundation supports learning accommodations for disadvantaged groups that happen apart from the traditional school year or school setting.
Summer camp to address gap in math achievement #dyscalculia
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Summer camps are a great place to make math fun and available.
A total of 150 girls will work in groups of sixteen or seventeen with instructors and teaching assistants from the university, and the work will focus on fractions, critical thinking, and related math skills. Professor Son emphasizes that math and the critical thinking it involves are crucial for good citizenship. She sees the summer camp as initiating future cooperation between public schools and the university toward the goal of increasing math proficiency in underrepresented groups such as girls, African-Americans, and economically disadvantaged students.
Author Quote
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“Common Core standards highlight that mathematical literacy is a necessity to be a functioning member of U.S. society.”
"Key Takeaways:
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A grant to boost the mathematical abilities of disadvantaged students will help level the playing field for 150 city girls this summer
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Common Core standards highlight that mathematical literacy is a necessity to be a functioning member of U.S. society
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The summer math program will reinforce basic math skills and improve critical thinking and reasoning skills, specifically relating to fraction operations
