Mev, 

Thank you for bringing up the point that "there is more than one right 
way to arrive at an answer". In fact everything you said in this posting is
so true and insightful. And your last paragraph is both wonderful and
powerful. I have nothing more to add but to thank you again.

Judy 

-----Original Message-----
From: womenliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:womenliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of mev at litwomen.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:07 AM
To: The Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [WomenLiteracy 389] Re: data literacy


On Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at 10:20  AM, Judy Ward wrote:


> Numeracy is also an empowerment issue for women. It is more than school

> math, computation, or solving the word problems at the end of the 

> chapter.

> Is it knowing how to function in society? What do you think?


Judy
I especially like this observation. and with this "knowing how to 
function" I want to go back to a question asked in a previous posting 
..."... do you have any suggestions for dealing with their wrong 
answers- ways that will
not return them to their silence?"

One of the things I've learned through my colleagues at TERC & SABES 
and through the EmPower program is that there is more than one right 
way to arrive at an answer. Sure, there may only be one answer -- but 
exploring all the ways to get to that answer can help with learners' 
ability to "know what they know" -- help to create a confidence in 
experimentation, critical thinking, multiple solutions, and 
problem-solving. Now there may be times when using some options may get 
the wrong answer -- but this can be an important part of the process as 
well. And some options may be more complicated (convoluted) or more 
time consuming than others -- but the answer will still be the same. 
Isn't that sometimes the way life is??

We all learn and do differently and I think being able to do this 
through numeracy can help us to not be so anxious about math. sometimes 
I think the pressure about math is that we have been made to believe 
that there is only one right answer and only one way to get to it...so 
if you don't do it right, then you fail. and i think that's how women's 
lives get presented to us as times as well. Having the assertiveness, 
and confidence (and the "permission to make mistakes and start over) 
helps us all to function in our various contexts. I think "literacy" 
has tended to show how this can happen through reading and writing -- 
but pursuing these "life lessons" through numeracy - especially for 
women -- can lead to some very powerful results.
Mev



WE LEARN
Women Expanding: Literacy Education Action Resource Network
www.litwomen.org/welearn.html

Mev Miller, Ed.D., Director
182 Riverside Ave.
Cranston, RI 02910
401-383-4374
welearn at litwomen.org

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