S- Vol.4-No.15 - In This Issue - Turning Girls On To Mathematics Is Goal Of Business Partnership - Summer Shadows

Oct 13, 2026

This issue presents program and education updates centered on girls’ participation in advanced mathematics through a school/business partnership. It highlights the Females Achieving Mathematics Equity (FAME) workshop structure, including teacher preparation, business site visits, one-on-one mentoring, and reflective journaling. It also reports outcomes such as sign-ups for Algebra 1 and selection of advanced course sequences, alongside broader news items on staff, curriculum, and teacher motivation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

In This Issue

What's Working

EM Digest

FYI

Turning Girls On To Mathematics Is Goal Of Business Partnership

Summer Shadows

Girl Talk --Corporate Style

S- Vol.4,No.15 # In This Issue What's WorkingParents Learn As Computer Tutors....3District HiresWith Staff Help.......4 EM Digest Teacher Motivation ....5School Improvement.....7Curriculum Development..9Staff Development.....10 FYI A survey of 463 low-incomemothers found mothers receivingadult education or training withliteracy components are morelikely than others to: ■ read to their children; ■ help with homework; ■ take their children to thelibrary; ■ talk with their children'steachers;and ■ help with and attend schoolactivities. From "Teach the Mother andReach the Child,"WiderOpportunities for Women,1325G St.NW,Washington, D.C.20005,(202)638-3143. 8 , 1 # Turning Girls On To Mathematics Is GoalOf Special Business Partnership Young girls in Fairfax County,Va.,are learning that math-ematics can be a tool for building an interesting career,thanks to an imaginative school/business partnership. Rising eighth-and ninth-grade girls at area schools visit busi-nesses to learn about math on thejob from specially selectedfemale mentors in the six year-old Females Achieving Mathe-matics Equity(FAME)program. The program's goal is to interest girls in advanced mathcourses by showing them the relation between math skillsand future careers. "At this age,kids make a decision"that affects college andcareers,says Terry Anstrom,a Fairfax County Schools pro-gram specialist."Some of them have no idea what to take,"she says,and when they talk to professional women,theireyes are opened. Participating students learn that math is "notjust numberson a blackboard,there's real creativity,"says Robin Pence,aU.S.Sprint employee who orchestrated FAME visits to hercompany for three years.Her company selected volunteersfrom areas not normally associated with math,such ashuman resources and marketing,so students could see thevariety of math applications in business. "All of [the professionals]are saying the same thing,that themore math and science you take,the better off you are,"saysAnstrom,and the message comes through loud and clear. Pence says the program is "fabulous,"and the studentsobviously enjoy and learn from their visits. "They love it and it's making a difference,"says RobinThurman,business liaison with the Fairfax County SchoolsOffice of Business/Industry Relations. Gleaning statistics on program success has been difficultbecause of student mobility,but the numbers do show # Turning Girls On To Mathematics Is Goal Of Business Partnership evidence of success.Since the 1986 session,98 percent of participants have signed up forAlgebra 1by grade nine,compared with 83percent of all Fairfax County male and femalestudents.And about 84 percent of FAMEstudents have selected an advancedmathcourse sequence. # Summer Shadows FAME is structured as a week-long summerworkshop.On Monday,students meet withmath teachers,who offer guidelines on busi-ness etiquette and what to ask about and lookfor when shadowing company employees.Stu-dents keepjournals all week,so they use theirguiding questions for their journal-writing. On Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday,thegirls make site visits to three businesses.They usually receive an overview of the com-pany and a tour,and then break out into de-partments.Each girl works one-on-one withan employee for one or two hours,watchingand enacting their math-related duties.Thengroups reconvene for lunch and return to theirschool site. Friday is a day to reflect on and discuss whatthey have learned,and students write thank-yous to their hosting businesses.Teacherscounsel students on coursework to date andfuture options,coaxing them to try advancedmath and computer science. About 100 girls participate each year afterbeing nominated by their principals,mathteachers and counselors and selected by theregional math coordinator.Sometimes,girlshave to be persuaded to participate,since it isa summer program,says Jack Hayter of thecounty business relations office.The key,hes

FAQs

What is the FAME program designed to achieve for rising girls?

FAME aims to spark interest in advanced math courses by showing how math skills connect to future careers through mentorship and real workplace experiences.

How is the FAME workshop structured during the week?

Students meet math teachers on Monday for guidance, then visit three businesses from Tuesday through Thursday for departmental shadowing and mentoring. Friday focuses on reflection, discussion, and writing thank-you notes, alongside counseling on coursework and future options.

What outcomes does the issue report for FAME participants?

Since the 1986 session, 98 percent of participants signed up for Algebra 1 by grade nine, compared with 83 percent for all Fairfax County students. About 84 percent of FAME students selected an advanced math course sequence.

Oct 13, 2026

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