February 8, 2023

Mathematizing Representation in Children’s Libraries: An Antiracist Math Unit in Elementary Grades

Key Points

The implementation of an antiracist math unit transformed how students engage with representation in literature, emphasizing racial equity.
Educators reported that student conversations around race and mathematics fostered deeper understanding of representation issues in literature.
Through community engagement, parents and administrators were involved in recognizing and addressing racial injustices in school libraries.
This approach demonstrates the potential for mathematics to serve as a tool for antiracist education in second to fifth-grade classrooms.

Abstract

In this article, educators across schools tell the story of planning, implementing, and reflecting on an elementary antiracist unit focused on mathematizing racial representation in school libraries. Students and teachers engaged in conversations about race, utilized mathematics to visualize erasures of race in literature, and involved parents, administrators and the community in recognizing and taking action to change this injustice. Our team considers tensions and powerful studentthinking involved in using mathematics for antiracist learning for second through fifth-grade children.

AI에게 질문

Bookmark