Keisha Avery, 13, left, examines an electronic candle she made during a session of "It's a Girl Thing," a three-day camp to introduce middle-school age girls to math and science careers. The girl, an eighth grader at Jennings Junior High School in St. Louis, Mo., was one of 28 young women attending the camp. (AP Photo/Kelley McCall)

Your Daughter Can Learn to Like Science and Math

The National Science Foundation identified five untruths that keep girls from going into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Here is what it found:

Myth: Most girls are less interested in science than boys from the time they start school.

Fact: About as many girls as boys have good attitudes toward science when they are in grade school. Sixty-six percent of girls and 68 percent of boys reported liking science in a recent study of 4th graders. Boys show twice as much interest in STEM careers as girls by the 8th grade. Poor images of women in science cause girls to lose interest in STEM careers in high school, college and the work force.

Myth: Classroom activities that increase girls' interest in STEM run the risk of turning off the boys.

Fact: Educators found that activities that increase girls' interest in STEM careers also increase the boys' interest in STEM.

Myth: Science and math teachers are no longer biased toward their male students.

Fact: Teachers often work more with boys than with girls in science and math. A teacher often will help a boy do an experiment by explaining how to do it. The same teachers just do the experiment when a girls asks for help. Everyone benefits when teachers involve girls in science and math.

Myth: Parents cannot motivate girls if they just are not interested in science or math.

Fact: Support from parents has been shown to be crucial to a girl's interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Parental support helps girls pursue STEM careers.

Myth: Changing STEM courses to make them easier for women runs the risk of watering down important "sink or swim" coursework at the college level.

Fact: Women often think "Bs" are not good enough grades and drop out. Men with "Cs" will stay with the class. Good mentoring and "bridge programs" that prepare girls for challenging coursework help both men and women succeed in STEM classes. Mentoring is one of the best ways to help young women choose a STEM career.

Parents can help their daughters develop an interest in STEM careers by encouraging their interest early on. Talk to your daughter's teachers about projects and games you can do at home to build your child's interest in science and math.

Encourage your daughter to learn about female role models in science, like astronaut Sally Ride.

Allow your child to ask questions. It is okay if you do not have the answers. Some of the best answers you can give are, "What do you think?" and "Let's find out together." Propose answers by working together, testing them, and checking them by using books, the Internet, or by asking others who might know the correct answer.

Source: National Science Foundation