Many immigrant children, as well as Hispanic and Black children, find in mathematics the unique power of knowing absolutely that they are right. In mathematics children can prove something no matter what anyone thinks. That's a very powerful experience. It opens children's eyes and turns on their minds. Effective teachers not only know the content of their subject, but also the cultures and interests of their students.
Good teachers looks for opportunities to build on the interests and successes of their students.
They use applications to make mathematics meaningful, but applications are not the only way to engage students' curiosity and passion. Most prospective teachers envision teaching pre-college mathematics to predominantly white students, many of whom are gifted and mathematically bright. In other words, they imagine classes full of students like themselves. Deep conflicts between the reality of school and the beliefs of teachers can create tremendous cognitive dissonance that paralyzes efforts at reform. Our universities need to find ways for mathematics and mathematics education faculty to integrate equity and access in all the courses they teach.