Is your child struggling with math?
Growing up, math was not a subject that came to me easily. Because of this, my mother put money towards math tutoring for almost my entire school career. We didn’t grow up rich but I also understood that this was a privilege that not everyone can afford. I found that I naturally flourished in the arts. I loved to dance and draw – I would spend hours working on creative assignments that allowed me to express myself in a meaningful way. If I had truly understood how my mind worked, I wouldn’t have chosen to pursue a Bachelor of Science.
I want in on all things educationIt is clear to me now that I had a creative mind and the way math and science were taught stifled my artistic creativity.
What is a creative mind?
A person with a creative mind is someone who relates their experiences and existing knowledge to create. Creation can take the form of paintings, poetry writing and even math solutions. This means that students need to be taught mathematics in a way that relates their personal experiences to their lived experiences.
Currently, the Grade 9 Mathematics course is de-streamed to mitigate the impacts of systemic racism and the early streaming of students into the college stream.
In the past, 6% of students in high income families were streamed in applied mathematics versus the 33% of students in low income families.
62% of students who already take an applied mathematics course also take 3 other applied courses.
I think that we can agree that students should not be streamed in their early teen years to dictate whether they will be pursuing a university or a college degree.
However, the statistics show us the dangers of treating the de-streamed mathematics course as an academic course as this will further perpetuate feelings of disengagement and frustration among the students who struggle within this course.
We truly believe that math needs to be taught in a way that relates students to their lived experiences and their cultural values to give numbers and equations more meaning.
At Roots to Routes Academy
We have a high school credit course that is built for us. We offer a Grade 9 Mathematics course with a global curriculum focused on cultural literacy, where all students will learn and receive materials that teach them more about themselves and the world. Our teachers are not only OCT certified, but they reflect the population that they serve. We believe that by creating the space for students to celebrate their uniqueness, students will feel empowered to create change in the world.
If you are interested in our courses and would like to learn more, please pencil in a 30 minute call that works best for you. We would be honoured to hear your story and to learn how to celebrate your child!
To hear more about Korina’s journey on navigating the education system, her insight as a Black teacher, and as an advocate for her students, listen to our podcast, More Than Just A School on Spotify or through our website here.
Let’s create change, one course at a time!
With love,
Ramya Selladurai
Co-founder of Roots to Routes Academy
