Three Ways Black and Latino Students Show They’re Engaged in Math

Engaged math students think deeply and critically, grasping the ‘how’ and ‘why,’ not just the ‘what.’ They don’t just memorize equations—they use math to solve real-world problems and can justify their answers.

One student, Hermione, a female Hispanic student at Katherine Johnson Middle School, shared, “I feel like [engaged students] also start seeing how math can also be used in everyday things. They start to notice it in things that you might need.” These students go beyond just learning abstract concepts and actually apply math to real-life situations—recognizing the practical use of math in their daily lives.

Another student, Bella, a female Hispanic Ecuadorian student at Katherine Johnson Middle School, described how working with peers helps them understand better. “Me and my friend, we always help each other because we ask our teacher to sit next to each other because we know how to help each other in the ways that both of us know. And then one of us is wrong, but the other one will know what to do. So it’s really fun and you learn faster with them.” This showcases collaborative critical thinking, where students engage with one another to figure out the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of solving problems. The act of helping each other deepens their understanding as they justify their solutions together.

Engaged students embrace challenges, facing difficult problems head-on and showing persistence in finding solutions. For example, Rock, a female Black student at Helen Rodríguez Trías High School, shared, “I double-check my problems to make sure I actually did it right.” This shows her persistence in carefully reviewing her work to ensure accuracy.

For many students, persistence is paired with what educators refer to as “productive struggle.” This means finding the right balance of pushing students to grow and think more deeply, but not to the point that they become discouraged. Willow—a female German, Spanish, Swedish, and Native American student at Alexa Canady Middle School—shared her experience with finding this balance. “I used to be very bad at math, and so the way I fixed that was just constantly going over basic facts … I worked step-by-step to be like, ‘All right. I got this down. Now I’m going to work on the next level.’” Her story illustrates how persistence, combined with gradual progress, allows students to build their skills over time.

Many students emphasized support they received from their teachers when describing their persistence through challenges. They say it helped them build confidence in tackling difficult tasks and develop a growth mindset, where they believe they can improve through effort and determination.

Engaged students feel motivated by challenges and recognize that these experiences help them grow. When teachers set high expectations, they help students build confidence, improve their understanding of math, and embrace the growth that comes from overcoming difficulties.

Vanessa, a female Mexican student at Alexa Canady Middle School, shared, “I mean, just getting the answer, knowing that I could do it. I’m like, ‘Whoa, I did that.’ Knowing that maybe I didn’t know how to do that before. And I would just be surprised that now I can do that easily.” This shows how facing challenges helps students realize their potential and builds their confidence.

Thomas, a male African American student at Katherine Johnson Middle School, added, “If we finish our work early, the teacher will be like, ‘Oh, we are like one of the tutors that people can ask for help.’” Meeting these expectations not only helps students master the material but also gives them the confidence to help others, showing how high expectations can lead to leadership in the classroom.

While we’ve highlighted these three characteristics, the AMME’s findings have also shown that math engagement for Black and Latino students is shaped by a combination of barriers and supports from educators, families, and communities. By recognizing and addressing these influences, we can create a more inclusive approach that provides students with the encouragement and resources they need.

Engaging students deeply in math goes beyond teaching concepts. Instead, it’s about helping them connect math to their everyday lives and supporting them as they work through challenges. By setting high expectations and understanding the factors that impact engagement, educators can play a key role in helping students become more confident and successful in math.

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, grant #2200437. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.