It is important to provide a safe space in which girls can see themselves as future scientists, IT experts, mathematicians, and engineers of the future— not only for them to believe that they are capable, but also to facilitate a learning environment in which success is normalized. Creating a classroom culture in which the minority of any gender or background is heard, seen, and welcomed normalizes diversity and cultural acceptance among students and their peers. Rising Voices: Books Empowering Girls in STEAM not only exposes all children to the world of STEAM, it also teaches valuable life skills by having the main characters model them. Readers will be inspired, like the protagonists they meet in the library, to be critical thinkers, make inquiries, value their own observations, and problem-solve. These life skills are valuable in shaping students’ ability to be accountable for their own learning. Children of all genders and backgrounds can build on and benefit from learning these skills. ABOUT ESTEPHANIE MOSQUERA-ORTIZ Estephanie Mosquera-Ortiz is the founder of Beaut&Beast Co., a company dedicated to teaching women and children self-sufficiency and awareness. An important part of Beaut&Beast Co.’s mission is to empower children to build on such characteristics in hopes of living healthier, happier lives. This is accomplished via flash cards and workbooks aimed at teaching children cultural diversity, history, comprehensive vocabulary, and self- awareness. Estephanie uses her own personal story as not only a source of encouragement but also a testament to the impact of education and self- awareness. She is currently an elementary educator at a local achievement school. As a teacher, she actively promotes the importance of inclusion and cultural diversity. She also teaches students to become self-aware and to build mentally stimulating habits, such as critical thinking, problem- solving, positive thinking, and leadership skills. She has seen firsthand the effectiveness of representation, guided discussions, and self-identification in the classroom.
Teacher’s Guide • 21
Teacher’s Guide Sampler 13
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs