Educators at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School (OLMC) are out to change female students’ perceptions about numeracy and further promote their mathematical strengths and abilities in hopes of encouraging them to explore possible careers in fields that require numeracy skills.

The action research project initiated at the Carlisle school this year was made possible by a Ministry of Education grant in support of the Managing Information for Student Achievement plan, which allows school boards to promote collaborative inquiries proposed by local schools.

For the 2009/2010 academic year, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board received $142,000 to support its MISA plan. A portion of the funds was directed to five action research projects, including OLMC’s proposal to increase female attitudes in mathematics in middle school years and beyond.

Targeting students in Grades 6 through 8, teachers at OLMC are taking a unique approach to teaching numeracy, one that focuses on changing  girls’ perspectives on the subject.

According to the 2008/2009 EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) Grade 6 questionnaire results for OLMC students, roughly eight out of 22 girls in the class believed they were good at math, compared to 71 per cent of the 24 OLMC Grade 6 boys. EQAO questionnaire results also indicate that 18 per cent, approximately four of the Grade 6 girls, stated they liked math.

The Grade 6 girls’ attitude towards numeracy, as reflected in the questionnaire results, does not fall in line with the female students’ EQAO mathematic test scores. For the 2008/2009 school year, 73 per cent of Grade 6 girls scored a Level 3 and 4 in the math test – significantly higher than the board and provincial averages.

Teachers at OLMC hope that they can help female students gain more confidence when it comes to numeracy by using different teaching techniques and strategies to make the subject more fun and relevant to girls in the classroom.

In addition to revising their teaching methods, educators are relying on various tools, including a book that offers resources for teachers looking to create some buzz in the classroom. Kiss My Math, by Danica D. McKellar, encourages young women to get excited about math.

The book, noted OLMC Grade 7 teacher, Lucio Iassogna, offers “girly ways to approach math problems.” The guide also provides educators with different styles that personalize teaching in the classroom.

So far, said Iassogna, the changes he has made seem to have had positive effects on his female students. “They light up; it appeals to them,” he said.

To drive home the importance of lifelong learning,  OLMC  hosted a Career Day for its Grade 7 students, which tied in to numeracy and the use of mathematics in the workforce.

Guests speakers, including Sonia Alaima, a logistics consultant, Kerry Dwyer-Mitchell, the HWCDSB’s numeracy consultant, Andy Athanasiou, an Air Canada pilot and Nancy Morena, a makeup artist and account executive, encouraged the students to pursue their passion. Students, including Victoria Houston, Brooklyn Brown and Allegra D’Agostini, found comfort in knowing that none of the speakers knew what career path they wanted to take when they graduated from high school.

“I have no idea what I want to be and it’s really kind of scary thinking that there are only five more years left before going to university,” said Houston. “It was really comforting to know that they didn’t know what they wanted to be and somewhere along the way, they found their passion.”

“I think it was really important that they had a real passion for what they were doing,” said D'Agostini. “That was one of the most important things because, if you don’t like what you are doing, it won’t matter in the end how much money you make because if you don’t like what you are doing, you will be miserable.”

Numeracy, noted Iassogna, was also highlighted by the school’s guest speakers as an important subject matter to pursue throughout high school and post-secondary studies. “Each one of the presenters talked about education, their involvement. They went to university and college, they pursued that part of their life and it looked like all of them were pretty happy with what they were doing,” said Iassogna. “And education was the key.”

Near the end of the academic year, students at OLMC will answer another questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards numeracy, as they did when they completed the EQAO test last year. Their teachers hope the results will show an increase in the number of female students who believe they are good at math and like the subject matter.

Results generated from the action research project, as well as the teaching methods, strategies and techniques used, will be documented and presented to the Ministry of Education and HWCDSB officials, including board trustees.

“It improves our practices,” said Iassogna of the action research process.