Math Teacher Aims to Make Mathematics Engaging for All

Vanessa Vakharia, a dynamic math educator known as the “Lady Gaga of math education,” is on a mission to transform perceptions of mathematics. During a recent visit to Ottawa for a conference, Vakharia shared her journey from struggling with math to becoming an influential advocate for making the subject more relatable and engaging for students.

Vakharia’s passion for mathematics stems from her own experiences. She recalls failing Grade 11 math twice, leading to the belief that she was not a “math person.” “I was always told I wasn’t a math person. I was a creative kid. I wanted to be a rock star and marry Keanu Reeves — still my dream to this day,” she explained during her appearance on CTV Your Morning Ottawa. It wasn’t until she encountered a different teacher in Grade 12 that her perspective shifted dramatically. “I ended up with a 96 per cent in Grade 12 math, and I love math and I’m like this is crazy,” she said.

Vakharia emphasizes that creativity and logic are not mutually exclusive. She founded “Math Guru” in Toronto in 2010, creating an inclusive environment for students to explore mathematics and science. The organization aims to make learning engaging and supportive, helping students overcome their fears and misconceptions about math.

In her efforts to further advocate for math education, Vakharia authored the book “Math Therapy: 5 Steps to Help Your Students Overcome Math Trauma and Build a Better Relationship With Math.” She describes the book as part of her initiative to “rebrand” math. “The thing with math is it doesn’t need me to make it cool because it is cool, but it does need a little rebrand. It has really bad PR,” she stated.

Her approach includes addressing the “math trauma” many students experience, reinforcing that every individual has the potential to excel in mathematics. “The truth is every single person is capable of doing and loving math,” Vakharia asserted. “You don’t have to, but I want every single person to have the choice.”

Vakharia’s nickname, inspired by pop icon Lady Gaga, reflects her belief that individuals should not have to sacrifice their identity to pursue their passions. “You should not have to choose between being mathematical and logical and being creative and artsy,” Vakharia stated. “We want people to bring their whole selves to the field of mathematics because that’s what makes math so cool.”

At the conference, organized by Actua, a Canadian organization focused on improving STEM education access for youth, Vakharia highlighted the importance of breaking down barriers in education. “Actua is an incredible organization whose goal is to make STEM accessible to youth across Canada,” she noted. “They do the most amazing outreach and work to remove the barriers that prevent every single person from feeling like math and science is something I could do if I chose to.”

During her interview, Vakharia showcased a simple yet effective math trick for multiplying any number between one and ten by nine. She demonstrated the technique by asking viewers to put down a finger representing the number being multiplied. “With nine times four, put down your fourth finger on your left hand. The number of fingers to the left of the finger you put down is the first digit of the product, while the number of fingers to the right is the second digit,” she explained. With this method, the product of nine times four becomes thirty-six.

Through her innovative teaching methods and engaging personality, Vanessa Vakharia is paving the way for a new understanding of mathematics, encouraging students to embrace their creativity while mastering the subject. Her mission continues to inspire many, proving that math can indeed be cool.