Math Literacy Programs

 Young people are the future. And CiSTEMer is developing students to become leaders through math education. In collaboration with The Young People’s Project, CiSTEMer utilizes their near-peer model of allowing students to take charge of their Education and the way math is taught. As a result, these students serve as Math Literacy Workers (MLWs), a term developed by The Young People’s Project. MLWs typically range from high school to college-aged students, and they are all trained in many ways to develop the mathematical literacy of younger students. This is done through a series of student-created games, activities, conversations and mentorship opportunities. Through CiSTEMer, Math Literacy Work is done by students for school districts, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and Kennesaw's Society of Black Engineers (KSBE).  

Clayton County Public Schools

 During the Summer of 2024, high school and college Math Literacy Workers taught a Flagway class to middle school students as part of Clayton County Public School’s Summer Learning Academy. Each day, high school Math Literacy Workers would teach multiple Flagway classes to local middle school students. Developed by The Young People’s Project, Flagway is a game-based and innovative math curriculum that emphasizes Pre-Algebra concepts, as well as upper-level math concepts that most students don’t get exposed to until their college math classes.  

  •  Although the high school Math Literacy Workers were trained through the Flagway curriculum by an adult, the entire summer program was student-led. This ensures that the curriculum was taught in a way that students best understand, while still focusing on critical thinking, rigor and most importantly – having fun!   

Kennesaw State University

 During the Summer of 2024, College Math Literacy Workers who were a part of Kennesaw’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (KSBE) co-taught an Algebra II course at Kennesaw State University through The Accessible Calculus Project. The Accessible Calculus Project is a National Science Foundation-funded research project that allows students to learn Algebra II in a way that better prepares them for their high school or college Calculus courses. 

  •  As student-co-teachers in the classroom, Math Literacy Workers are able to develop a personal connection with their students to get a better understanding of how they think and learn. As a result, the MLWs are able to create games and activities for their students that emphasize learning in a hands-on way. 

Clark Atlanta University

One hallmark of The Young People's Project is that young people have a better idea on how Education and student learning should be done than the older adults who make most of the decisions. Through the “A Community-based Approach to Recruiting, Preparing, and Retaining Diverse STEM Teachers Through Math Literacy Coaching, Mentoring, and Mental Health and Wellbeing” project, High School Math Literacy Workers will be trained to serve as Math Literacy Coaches to support graduate-level students at Clark Atlanta University on their journey to become certified teachers.  

  • In addition to taking graduate-level courses and student-teaching their own high school classes, Clark Atlanta University students will be observed by High School Math Literacy Coaches. As the Math Literacy Coach is observing the class, they will take notes - looking to see if the teacher is upholding the standards, which were established by a team of other High School Math Literacy Coaches. Followed by an Observation Debriefing Session, the High School Math Literacy Coach will then discuss the teacher's teaching strategies, adjustments and acknowledgements of good practices. 

Englewood Public Schools District

Englewood Public School District in New Jersey utilizes College Math Literacy Work through the Accessible Calculus Project. Each day, College Math Literacy Workers serve in high school Algebra II classrooms to ensure that the Accessible Calculus curriculum and pedagogy are upheld. They work with teachers to co-develop lesson plans and create a bridge between the teacher and the students in the classroom.  

  • The work that College Math Literacy Workers for The Accessible Calculus Project do has a strong emphasis on student voice, agency and identity. By having college students in each high school classroom, they encourage their students to use their imagination and become creative with their mathematical thought processes, create solutions for themselves, and talk about their ideas with a younger mentor and role model. In addition to the classroom work with students, College Math Literacy Workers also serve as co-researchers for the Accessible Calculus Project, providing feedback and various methods to answering the project’s research questions.  

 

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