Empowering Caregivers Through Informal STEM Counterspaces: A Reflective Analysis of Parental Workshops

Students’ academic success particularly in mathematics, where early mastery lays the foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving skills, can be directly tied to caregiver engagement (Jeynes, 2012; Epstein, 2018). Algebra by 7th Grade (Ab7G) at Purdue is a Saturday informal STEM counterspace that provides math tutoring and engineering-focused projects to participants in grades 1–10. Students are mentored by Purdue graduate and graduate students. The mentors facilitate mentoring, tutoring, and engineering projects. Ab7G is a hybrid format that meets for six sessions per academic semester on Saturdays. Duke Energy and Chevron provide funding for Ab7G, ensuring accessibility at no cost to participants. Simultaneously, caregivers participate in workshops designed to strengthen their role in their children’s academic journey. These sessions are facilitated by campus partners at Purdue and community partners. Caregiver workshops address varying topics, such as mathematical mindsets (Boaler, 2022), productive struggle in math learning, growth mindsets, the power of yet, financial literacy, foreign-language literacy, and overall well-being. Purdue campus partners have contributed specifically to workshops on mental health, physical fitness, sleep, student success, and interpersonal relationships, thus highlighting the holistic approach of Ab7G. This essay presents a reflective analysis of the impact of these caregiver workshops, exploring their role as informal STEM counterspaces that empower families, impact community outreach, and contribute to student success. Through their narratives, we find that engaging caregivers is beneficial to Greater Lafayette, Indianapolis, and communities beyond our borders to develop the whole child. By analyzing these workshops’ design, implementation, and participant feedback, we aim to highlight best practices for caregiver involvement in STEM education, specifically mathematics and engineering.