Chapter 5: On Being a Boy or a Girl in Mrs. Sanders’ First Grade Classroom

A well-known and much-treasured nursery rhyme reflects society’s perceptions of the substance of boys and girls: “What are little boys are made of? Snips and snails and puppy dog tails,” and, “What are little girls are made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice!” This rhyme assumes that males and females are different indeed, implying that even their abilities and interests may differ. Such societal views lend to the perpetual perception that, based merely on gender, the child’s potential, interests, and capabilities are understood and can be predicted. This view is inaccurate, particularly as it relates to mathematics and science. According to the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, “Knowing someone is a male tells us little about whether his math skills reflect those of Einstein or a math phobic” (Campbell & Storo, 1996, p. 1).