National Honesty Day is Today

I didn't even know such a day existed such a day existed, but today is National Honesty Day. Apparently it was created to balance out the fact that the month is kicked off by April Fools Day.  So a few "honest truths" about math. I learned these after taking a Stanford course last summer:

• There is no such thing as a "math person" or a "non-math person." 
• Mindsets concerning math can be changed, but it takes time and effort, so those that consider themselves "non-math people" need to know they have the power to makes things different
• Mistakes in math are learning opportunities - sticking to it and powering through a tough concept may come with bumps and bruises, but ultimately makes for a better mathematician
• Boys are not better at math than girls. Girls are just as capable.

So if math is "hard" for your student, or if you are fearful of projecting your "non-math person" identity onto your child, know it can be turned around.  Will it necessarily be easy - No. I have to be honest about that. The reality is, a student's future is highly dependent upon the opportunities they seize earlier in life, so working hard and "getting it" in elementary school leads to opportunities in middle school. Solid middle school performances opens the doors to advanced math and AP classes in high school which translate into getting into a four-year college, or even a select university, in the major of your choice.