Dr. Adrian Mims, co-founder of the Calculus Project, talks about the importance of increasing calculus enrollment among underrepresented students. They discuss the program's components including pre-teaching math and the impact of offering math acceleration options. He also shares advice for policy makers on improving math outcomes for traditionally underrepresented students.
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Quick takeaways
The Calculus Project aims to increase the number of underrepresented students taking calculus by providing support in middle school and addressing declining math scores.
Starting math education early, in third or fourth grade, and fostering a joyful and engaging approach can prevent negative attitudes towards the subject and improve math outcomes for traditionally underrepresented students.
Deep dives
Importance of the Calculus Project
The podcast episode explores the Calculus Project, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase the number of black, Hispanic, and low-income students taking calculus, starting with support in middle school. The episode discusses the importance of the project in addressing the declining math scores and the need for math acceleration options for middle school students. It also highlights the consequences of students having to take remedial math in university and the valuable advice shared by Dr. Adrian Mims, the founder of the project, on improving math outcomes for underrepresented students.
Components and Impact of the Calculus Project
This part of the podcast focuses on the various components of the Calculus Project and the impact it has had. The summer program, targeting rising seventh and eighth-grade students, offers math acceleration by pre-teaching the math they'll encounter in the next school year and also emphasizes collaborative group work. The other components, such as academic centers and peer teaching, ensure ongoing support and community-building among students. The episode mentions that the project has impacted approximately 10,000 students since its establishment, and it shares an observation from a former student who is now tutoring others in college.
The Value of Algebra and the Importance of Starting Early
The podcast discusses the significance of algebra and its role in preparing students for higher-level math courses like calculus. While the project starts in middle school, there is recognition of the importance of starting even earlier, in third or fourth grade, to build a strong math foundation. The episode acknowledges the challenges students face in the transition from elementary to middle school math and emphasizes the need for a joyful and engaging approach to math education to prevent students from developing negative attitudes towards the subject.
Addressing Structural Deficiencies and Improving Math Education
In this part of the podcast, Dr. Mims shares advice for policymakers and district leaders to improve math outcomes for traditionally underrepresented students. He emphasizes the need to prioritize neighborhood schools and invest resources to make them great, ensuring that students have access to quality education close to home. Additionally, he highlights the importance of recruitment and retention of teachers, as well as collaboration with graduate schools of education to prepare teachers for diverse classroom environments and promote equity in education.
Join Anna Stokke in conversation with Dr. Adrian Mims. He is the co-founder and CEO of the Calculus Project, which is a non-profit organization that aims to increase the number of Black, Hispanic, Indigenous and low-income students taking calculus, starting with support in middle school.
They discuss why he started The Calculus Project, the various components of the program, and its overall impact. They talk about what he calls “the quiet crisis,” in reference to declining math scores, and why it’s important to turn that around. They discuss the importance of offering math acceleration options for middle school students. They talk about the consequence of students finding themselves in a position where they must take remedial math in university. Moreover, Dr. Mims shares some valuable advice for policy makers on how to improve math outcomes for students who have historically been underrepresented in math. This episode will be of interest to teachers, school administrators, parents, policy makers and anyone with an interest in improving math outcomes.