Learn

1. Hispanics in STEM
2. Careers in STEM
3. Math Anxiety & How to Overcome it
4. How to Encourage Your Student to Pursue STEM Education

Hispanics in STEM

Did you know?

• 1 million jobs will be STEM related by 2022.
• Hispanics in the US workforce have grown to 15%, yet Hispanics only account for 6.5% of the workforce in STEM careers.
• Thousands of jobs in technology are not being filled because of a lack of talented and qualified workforce.

This could be you!

These three steps can help prepare you for a future STEM career!

1. Experience STEM! – Enroll in a STEM summer program or STEM after-school program, participate in robotics competitions, or attend a local STEM workshop.
2. Volunteer in your community – Local museums and parks or summer internships can be great exposure to different STEM careers.
3. Prepare for college- Study up! Focus on math and science and take classes that will challenge you. Also, remember that your SAT & ACT scores will be important when applying to college.

“To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.” – Albert Einstein

Careers in STEM

There will be one million new jobs in STEM by 2020 – are you ready?

Find out about the benefits of a STEM career, STEM career resources, STEM career highlights, and more at: http://thencshp.org/tuportalstem/learn/careers-in-stem/ 

Math Anxiety and How to Overcome It

What is Math Anxiety?

Do you get nervous when you’re about to answer a math problem? Does your mind go blank from just looking at a math problem? Do you feel like math “just isn’t your thing”?

If so, you might have math anxiety. And guess what? That’s completely normal. Math anxiety is a feeling of intense frustration or helplessness about one’s ability to do math. Math anxiety can be a disabling condition, causing humiliation, resentment, and even panic. Luckily, you’re not alone. An extraordinary number of people admit to having math anxiety, and there are many ways to overcome it.

Why is Math Anxiety so common?

In the United States, there’s a common phrase that people use anywhere and at all stages of life: “I am not a math person.” This phrase illuminates the damaged reputation that mathematics has in our society. It implies that it is of interest only to certain types of people, i.e. nerds or geeks that are somehow immune to how difficult math is. Our prejudiced attitude towards math is due, in part, to teaching methods that emphasize memorization. Students are often taught that there is one way to obtain a solution to a problem, leaving little space for variability and creativity. Also, since there has been an increasing trend towards ever more standardized testing, many schools in the United States give priority to teaching “to the test.” Finally, young girls, women and some minorities face additional structural barriers to progress in math, such as sexism and racism, which can lead teachers to unconsciously overlook their challenges or success in math and address them accordingly.

Tips to overcoming Math Anxiety

1. Learn techniques to manage your stress. Meditation and deep breathing are techniques that can help you relax in stressful situations. They can aid students dealing with math anxiety since they can be helpful with nervousness and tension.
2. Combat negative thinking. A great barrier for students with math anxiety is lack of confidence. Replace negative thoughts such as “I’m not good at math,” “I won’t get a good grade,” or “I can’t do this,” with positive and confident statements such as “I can do this,” or “ I’m prepared.”
3. Do “easiest” problems first. Do problems in your test or homework assignment that you “know” best to increase your confidence. It will ease your stress and help you take on the “harder” ones.
4. Start preparing early. Cramming for an exam will make it more likely for you to forget the material. You’ll be more likely to master the material and be more relaxed if you’ve practiced the it over time. Also, if you understand it better, you’ll be less likely to forget it under stress.
5. Instead of memorizing, try to understand the “why” of math concepts. When you’re stressed your short term memory can often be compromised. For that reason, it’s important for you to understand that math is a series of concepts that build on each other, it’s not just a set of rules to memorize. Understanding the reason behind rules can help you remember concepts better and apply them to all types of problems rather than just the ones you’ve seen before.

There are many more strategies that can help you with math anxiety, check out these websites for more tips:

• How to Overcome Math Anxiety // Weber State University https://www.weber.edu/wsuimages/vetsupwardbound/StudySkills/overcomemathanxiety.pdf
• Coping with Math Anxiety // Platonic Relms  http://platonicrealms.com/minitexts/Coping-With-Math-Anxiety
• Professor Freedman’s Math Help // Math Power http://www.mathpower.com/
• Source: Weber State University  https://www.weber.edu/wsuimages/vetsupwardbound/StudySkills/overcomemathanxiety.pdf

How to Encourage Your Student to Pursue STEM Education

Looking for tips on how to get your student interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)?

Look no further!

With Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) becoming more and more important, here are some great tips from organizations promoting STEM learning:

• Different ways New S.T.E.M. Techniques can Interest Kids Without Forcing them to Learn // STEM Kids Learn– This page talks about the importance of STEM toys and games that are created intentionally to encourage STEM learning, 3 things that parents can do to stimulate children through STEM, and how to make STEM applicable to everyday life. http://stemkidslearn.com/2016/12/27/new-s-t-e-m-techniques-that-make-kids-want-to-learn/
• Four Tips for getting Kids Interested in Science and Tech // Supporting Education
  http://www.supportingeducation.org/2017/01/09/tips-get-kids-interested-science-tech-stem/
• Study: To Get High School Students Interested in STEM, Invest in Parents // Education Week
  “When parents of high schoolers are given guidance on how to talk about the importance of science and math, their children are more likely to score well on a STEM standardized test and, years later, pursue a STEM career, according to a recent study from the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.” To learn more visit: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2017/03/stem_parents_study.html

TuPortalSTEM, a web portal dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), was designed to raise awareness and increase access to information about STEM education, STEM career opportunities, and STEM programs and opportunities for Hispanic students and their families.