There are so many programs where the kids don’t actually have to think or problem solve to advance through levels. They gamify the learning so much there is no learning. I’ve watched my daughter breeze through 35 levels of a program simply by figuring out the “rules” of the program without any consideration of the math they are pretending is being explored. Quality activities go beyond being engaging but invite students into visualization and thinking. I look for programs where there is some opportunity for choice and exploration and kids are given opportunities to explore a concept in many different ways. Often they “pass” a level and are jumped up the standards like a ladder when we know that’s not the case. Instead, I would like various activities that model and explore the same concept but from different angles and contexts
I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of current math trends. As a teacher of high school students who come from very limited academic backgrounds, I'd like to suggest that there is room for study about how fluency is an incredibly limiting factor when it comes to the traditional math curriculum which seems to focus on teaching students all the algorithmic skills they need to then apply them in college level classes that require math (engineering, medicine, etc.). The creative side of math problem solving that you promote is wonderful for students who arrive at fluency eventually, but if fluency is never achieved, then these students have a terribly hard time understanding the application of the relatively simple use of numbers (fractions, percents, and decimals, mainly) in the very real financial world they enter. Too many of my students who come to me will full time jobs who don't understand how the number on their paycheck is related to hours worked, their hourly wage, and the various fractions, decimals, and percents that affect the final deposit. Those who have a solid foundation and fluency in arithmetic (particularly students from Ghana and Haiti) fare better on both curriculum requirements AND understanding the financial world they take part in. To sum up an already too long comment, I believe we do a great disservice to students when we don't help them reach fluency in favor of chasing "access" to higher levels of math.
Get excited for Multiplication by Heart once yours hit 3rd grade! It’s similarly excellent! And thanks for the recs! I found a “Sumaze 2” that both our newly minted rising 4th graders were just fighting over when I downloaded it to my phone to check it out :)
Bunny Times! in Tracy's recommendations - what a blast from the past! The creators are from the (former) Key Curriculum Press - the makers of Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom and the Discovering Mathematics series! I was there when this debuted in the App Store - did not realize it still lives!
Thanks for the nod to computational fluency there. I think so much more confidence would be had by students if this was a thing again. It's like phonics; sure you can learn to read without it, but the vast majority of students make quicker progress and develop greater life-long confidence if they get it at the start.
I know it would be a great way to learn multiplication concepts and relationships, even for young students. And the levels get challenging enough, I even got addicted to it myself for a bit.
Stick and Split is a fun one that we've used! I also recommend the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis; it's less arithmetic and more logic but very fun and does a good job of increasing in complexity as you go along. And definitely fits the bill of interesting stuff happening when you get things wrong!
Fluency is bs. Mental modeling is the future. Why teach fluency at all. We are running into the calculator thing all over again.
We have a 2D education system. We need to have a 3D+ one.
This is very interesting to read because this is like watching a changing of the guard. This person can not mental model for the future and it talking about only what is require for this very minute. They can't see what is required for one year from now.
Let me clue you in.
2 years ago I got rejected from a graduate program for learning and cognition because I am neurodivergent and the system is designed to do this.
So I used AI and rewrote the theory behind how the most intelligent learn. It is really how we all learn but our system won't admit it. My theories are correct and everyone is freaking out right now.
They deserve to be. We are complacent. We are heading for a huge upset. All th system smart kids will be worthless when compared to one creative kid with AI.
There are so many programs where the kids don’t actually have to think or problem solve to advance through levels. They gamify the learning so much there is no learning. I’ve watched my daughter breeze through 35 levels of a program simply by figuring out the “rules” of the program without any consideration of the math they are pretending is being explored. Quality activities go beyond being engaging but invite students into visualization and thinking. I look for programs where there is some opportunity for choice and exploration and kids are given opportunities to explore a concept in many different ways. Often they “pass” a level and are jumped up the standards like a ladder when we know that’s not the case. Instead, I would like various activities that model and explore the same concept but from different angles and contexts
I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of current math trends. As a teacher of high school students who come from very limited academic backgrounds, I'd like to suggest that there is room for study about how fluency is an incredibly limiting factor when it comes to the traditional math curriculum which seems to focus on teaching students all the algorithmic skills they need to then apply them in college level classes that require math (engineering, medicine, etc.). The creative side of math problem solving that you promote is wonderful for students who arrive at fluency eventually, but if fluency is never achieved, then these students have a terribly hard time understanding the application of the relatively simple use of numbers (fractions, percents, and decimals, mainly) in the very real financial world they enter. Too many of my students who come to me will full time jobs who don't understand how the number on their paycheck is related to hours worked, their hourly wage, and the various fractions, decimals, and percents that affect the final deposit. Those who have a solid foundation and fluency in arithmetic (particularly students from Ghana and Haiti) fare better on both curriculum requirements AND understanding the financial world they take part in. To sum up an already too long comment, I believe we do a great disservice to students when we don't help them reach fluency in favor of chasing "access" to higher levels of math.
I'd love any recommendations for older kiddos (Math 1 level high school to avoid the summer slip)?
What do you like for fluency? Particularly for kids getting into middle school
How did you get the Jalah Bryant video? And are there more of these types of best teaching videos that teachers are willing to share and showcase?
They're from my private reserve. I post them periodically.
Get excited for Multiplication by Heart once yours hit 3rd grade! It’s similarly excellent! And thanks for the recs! I found a “Sumaze 2” that both our newly minted rising 4th graders were just fighting over when I downloaded it to my phone to check it out :)
Bunny Times! in Tracy's recommendations - what a blast from the past! The creators are from the (former) Key Curriculum Press - the makers of Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom and the Discovering Mathematics series! I was there when this debuted in the App Store - did not realize it still lives!
Thanks for the nod to computational fluency there. I think so much more confidence would be had by students if this was a thing again. It's like phonics; sure you can learn to read without it, but the vast majority of students make quicker progress and develop greater life-long confidence if they get it at the start.
Loved the Jalah Bryant clip.
"Responsive feedback. Getting something wrong should feel interesting too..."
There's a little app I've heard of called Wordle that does this. You guessed wrong, but that doesn't mean your guess was worthless.
good choice of Apps!
I also like:
- 10 seeds (https://duksel.com/p/sunny-seeds/) good for practicing “friends of 10”
- Wuzzit Trouble (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wuzzit-trouble/id600190128) about arithmetic and skip counting, introducing to multiplication
- Numbertopia (https://apps.apple.com/lu/app/numbertopia/id1536525498) for calculation skills.
I love your criteria for digital apps! I think you should look into the app "Stick and Split" (https://www.maypoleeducation.com/families/our-games).
I know it would be a great way to learn multiplication concepts and relationships, even for young students. And the levels get challenging enough, I even got addicted to it myself for a bit.
Stick and Split is a fun one that we've used! I also recommend the Logical Journey of the Zoombinis; it's less arithmetic and more logic but very fun and does a good job of increasing in complexity as you go along. And definitely fits the bill of interesting stuff happening when you get things wrong!
Fluency is bs. Mental modeling is the future. Why teach fluency at all. We are running into the calculator thing all over again.
We have a 2D education system. We need to have a 3D+ one.
This is very interesting to read because this is like watching a changing of the guard. This person can not mental model for the future and it talking about only what is require for this very minute. They can't see what is required for one year from now.
Let me clue you in.
2 years ago I got rejected from a graduate program for learning and cognition because I am neurodivergent and the system is designed to do this.
So I used AI and rewrote the theory behind how the most intelligent learn. It is really how we all learn but our system won't admit it. My theories are correct and everyone is freaking out right now.
They deserve to be. We are complacent. We are heading for a huge upset. All th system smart kids will be worthless when compared to one creative kid with AI.
Love your recommendations. My 8 year adores the Kahoot Chess by DragonBox. The sequencing in teaching how to play chess is phenomenal!