Rethink Math Education:
Beyond the "Science of Math"
Uncover how student-centered learning paired with direct instruction builds conceptual understanding to make knowledge stick.
High-Quality Math Instruction
Given that only a third of US fourth graders are deemed proficient in math on the Nation’s Report Card, it’s time for a change. We’re committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to build enduring knowledge. We’re thrilled by the success and impact we’re seeing in schools where students are using our English language arts curriculum, which is backed by the Science of Reading. Now we’re eager to continue this educational shift with evidence-based improvements in math instruction. Whether you call it the Science of Math or something else, let’s work together to empower students with high-quality math instruction that gives them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
It’s Time to Come Together Around Good Math Instruction
“A big problem in math instruction is that many US schools for too long have been teaching concepts and procedures in isolation. Thankfully, that’s changing, as there is a growing understanding that kids need to learn math in a more connected way, in which concepts build on one another. This involves encouraging kids to see the links between topics, like connecting addition and multiplication in elementary school and ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division in middle school.”
Making Math Stick: Teaching Practical Application
“ ... Kids need to know how to apply what they learn in math class toward solving real-world problems, for example when averaging test scores to determine a grade, calculating a price with a 40% off sale, finding the minimum size of a box needed to mail an item, and more. Providing students with opportunities to discuss and engage in real-world applications of math makes their learning more meaningful.”—Lynne Munson
Unlock Math Understanding:
How do Students Best Understand Math?
At Great Minds, we believe students need to develop deep conceptual understanding of mathematics and acquire numeracy, fluency, and other procedural skills, as well as learn how to apply these math skills in the real world. Picture a rope with multiple strands. One of those strands is procedural fluency, in which students learn when and how to use math procedures appropriately and flexibly. Another strand is conceptual understanding, which delves into the reasoning behind concepts—the why behind the math. A third strand is application, which is the ability to apply math knowledge to solve real-world problems. Our curriculum weaves these processes together in a balance we call the Dynamic Middle, helping students build connections and lasting understanding.
Math Manipulatives:
An Engaging and Effective Student-Centered Approach
When we empower students to engage with physical representations of math problems, they can build deep foundations for learning by using concrete objects to help them understand and do the math. Using objects like centimeter cubes or place value disks makes learning tangible, while also allowing students to think of abstract paths toward a solution.
Essential Skills for Today’s World:
Mastering Data Literacy
In an increasingly data-rich world, the ability to understand and interpret data is an essential skill for every student. With more and more states requiring attention to data science, your need for high-quality instructional activities addressing data science will be critical.
Free Data Resources for Your Math Classroom
Data Talks are short, low-floor, high-ceiling notice and wonder activities that allow students to think critically and interpret data visualizations. You can use these 10-minute free resources during any part of the day and alongside your reading, math, social studies, or science lessons.
Building Enduring Knowledge
Connecting Concepts and Developing Strong Problem-Solving and Reasoning Skills
When students learn concepts in a deep and engaging way and use multiple methods to solve problems, they can better retain, extend, and apply learning to solve problems in the classroom and in the real world. When students engage in math-based discussions and talk about their reasoning and math choices, they strengthen their conceptual understanding of math principles.
In-Depth Professional Development
Created by the team of teacher–writers behind Wit & Wisdom and Geodes, our in-person and virtual professional development sessions support teachers and leaders. These sessions ensure strong initial implementation as well as sustained success.
Personalized Coaching
Coaches from the Wit & Wisdom and Geodes team expertly guide educators to apply what they learn in Professional Development sessions to their own classrooms and schools. Through modeling and observation, Great Minds coaches help teachers improve implementation and help leaders develop effective ways to support, understand, and evaluate classroom practices.
On-Demand Support
The Wit & Wisdom and Geodes teacher-writers have also created a suite of free resources to support teachers, including implementation support blogs, video libraries, and more.
Family Tip Sheets
Module-level tip sheets that provide a list of all texts students will read in the module, sample questions to ask, and other activities to extend students' thinking at home.
(Available in additional languages.)
Multilingual Glossaries
To ensure multilingual learners can access the grade-level Wit & Wisdom content, glossaries are available with definitions of words they will be reading and writing.
(Available in additional languages.)