Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom

by Pamela Seda, Kyndall Brown

Most of the top jobs for the future require students to have a strong foundational understanding of mathematics. Our failure to mathematically educate most students in general, and students of color in particular, is bad not only for these students individually but also for our society. In Choosing to See, Pamela Seda and Kyndall Brown offer a substantive, rigorous, and necessary set of interventions to move mathematics education toward greater equity, particularly in serving the needs ofBlack and Brown students, who are underrepresented and underserved as math scholars. The authors’ thoughtful ICUCARE equity framework serves as a lens to help teachers see where they are achieving this alignment and where they are not. Through this lens, choosing to see means caring enough about what you see to act. It means accepting that every one of your students can be an expert given the opportunity. It means recognizing negative stereotypes about marginalized students and understanding their effects. It means knowing that your students have rich lives outside the classroom that can inform what you do inside the classroom. And itmeans recognizing and celebrating their human dimensions, so that all students’ strengths, capabilities, and talents can grow.“A provocative and practical read! Seda and Brown remind us that equity is not a destination but a journey we take together with our students, their families, and our colleagues.”DR. TRENA L. WILKERSON, professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Baylor University, president, NCTM “It’s one thing to embrace Standards for Mathematics Practices (SMP) but quite another to see the human potential of minoritized children and teach them in ways that ensure they actually succeed. The authors of this book share rich personal stories that not only help teachers to see their students but to also perceive who they are and what they can become.”JACQUELINE LEONARD, professor of Mathematics Education, University of Wyoming “Choosing to See is the emotional and spiritual journey that all math educators need to embark on wholeheartedly. The book is a timely primer that takes the deep and complex issue of race and systemic bias in the mathematical experiences of Black students and presents them with unflinching clarity and candor.” SUNIL SINGH, author of Math Recess “This book helps close the gap between recognizing that we can do more to make math classrooms equitable and actually having a plan for how to do it. Pamela and Kyndall are respected leaders in the mathematics education community and help unpack the problems we may not be aware of as well as solutions for addressing them.” ROBERT KAPLINSKY, author of Open Middle Math

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Mathematics

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2021

Reviews

[Justin Leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandatory reading for all math educators. The writing feels deeply radical in a country that continues to ban any conversation of racial equity in schools.

[Alexa Cacibauda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love all of the points made in the book, but also love that it gives educators specific examples and strategies. So many amazing things about developing positive mathematical identities in students

[Joe Bolz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would have such power as a book study for an institution or math ed group! So many wonderful ideas as well as reminders of what I know I should be doing! Thanks for a wonderful experience!

[Jill Giovas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The framework presented has many helpful components based on research as well as questions and tools to help with implementation. I will say as an elementary educator, that most examples in this text are at the secondary level. The important concepts and strategies can be used at the elementary level in most cases, but additional examples and scenarios from elementary would be helpful.

[Sheila Berlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical & confirming. Read it if you’re a math educator!

[Jennifer Malue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST read! Dr. Pamela Seda and Dr. Kyndall Brown present a transformative framework to promote math equity in our schools, specifically in our mathematics classrooms. I am proud to have met both of them at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference. They are humble, kind, supportive, and innovative. This book has helped me to become a more critically conscious teacher and implement culturally relevant pedagogy in my classroom. We need to rethink what it means to be "mathematically smart".

[liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has changed me as an educator.

[Kirti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with many practical ideas.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for all educators, not just math teachers. Great suggestions and perspective of equity and experiences.

[Alyssa Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

It had some good nuggets of information, but most of it was not new to me and I hoped for more 'aha' moments when reading.

[Jessica Kostrab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I was asked to read for work.

Its effective enough. The strategies are decent. The handful I tried worked well enough.