Kiss My Math (broadcast Friday, August 8th, 2008)

Ira discusses math education with Danica McKellar--aka Winnie Cooper on the the television series "The Wonder Years." McKellar, who graduated from UCLA with a degree in math, is the author of "Math Doesn't Suck." (Credits: Produced by Flora Lichtman) See More Videos

Actress and math advocate Danica McKellar, also known as Winnie Cooper in "The Wonder Years", is working to make pre-algebra cool. Sound like an impossible task? In her new book "Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss," McKellar breaks down middle school math into easy-to-digest concepts--heard of integers...what about "mint-egers"?

"I'm sorry, but 'integer' has got to be the most boring word I've ever heard.... Well, I propose something different. We're not going to talk about these so-called "integers," or I might fall asleep while typing. Instead, we're going to talk about MINT-egers," McKellar writes in "Kiss My Math." In this segment, Ira talks with McKellar about her mission to make math glamorous to girls. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.