Thank you for featuring this book -- "Learning to Love Math" by Dr. Judy Willis has an awesome subtitle "Teaching Strategies That Change Student Attitudes and Get Results". How can Math teachers share their enthusiasm so that students will embrace the challenges and enjoyment of Math? While this book emphasizes the utility of Math, Dr. Willis also points out ways and reasons for students to learn including convincing people that they can change their intelligence, supporting students in setting short-term and long-term goals and reducing mistake anxiety. She also recommends teachers/parents sharing their own stories of learning including tales of endurance and fortitude.
These ideas are especially important for girls as it is still not very cool to be good at Math. Having a stronger Math background creates more career choices and boosts confidence. – for example, engineering is a great career and solid foundation and is still only about 20% women (about the same as the 1980's when I was in engineering school!). Best wishes to your daughter, Barbara!
This book was reviewed in Math Confidence's e-newsletter in December 2010:
