What does it help with?
ST Math promotes mastery-based learning, deep mathematical understanding and sophisticated problem-solving by accessing the brain’s innate “spatial-temporal” reasoning ability. This ability allows the brain to hold visual, mental representations in short-term memory and to evolve them in both space and time, thinking multiple steps ahead.
What grade and age range?
K – 12
Is this core/supplemental/special needs/extra-curricular/professional development or what?
ST Math is a supplemental program.
What subject, topic, what standards is it mapped to?
ST Math was designed from the ground up to meet the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in both content and intent, ensuring that all students have access to powerfully learning opportunities organized for focus, coherence and rigor. Our design process embeds not only the content standards, but also the standards for mathematical practice throughout the curriculum. ST Math is also aligned to individual state standards.
What lesson time does it use?
It is recommended that kindergarten and first grade students use the program 60 minutes a week and second grade students and higher use the program 90 minutes a week. Students can also use the program at home.
What is the pricing model?
ST Math costs about $25 to $29 per student annually in schools. That's equivalent to about a quarter the cost of a textbook. For schools that embrace ST Math but need help funding the program, we often find like-minded philanthropic partners to assist.
Are there services around it?
Yes, we are dedicated to providing school and district leadership and teachers with the tools, knowledge and information needed to maximize their success with ST Math. Educators using ST Math receive initial training to get up and running on the software and to learn the best practices of implementation. Ongoing professional development workshops are available and designed to deepen teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge for teaching math through the use of ST Math. Each school site receives ongoing technical and curricular assistance from an assigned MIND Education Consultant and educators have access to Technical Support.
What makes ST Math unique?
Based on neuroscience research, ST Math incorporates the latest research in learning and the brain to engage students at any level of math or language proficiency into a progression of math understanding.
A description of the characteristics—how is it designed for user interface, user experience? What instructional design principles are at work here?
ST Math is designed to be intuitive and free of language which enables immediate engagement for students regardless of math or language proficiency. For each puzzle, ST Math animates the visual representations of math to provide immediate, instructive feedback.
Teachers have additional capabilities including a robust reporting system where teachers can quickly identify student needs and differentiate instruction. Integrated classroom management tools enable real-time teacher and student interaction.
A principal’s review:
Lisa Solomon
Principal, Madison Elementary School, Santa Ana, CA
“I have seen ST Math change lives first hand. It is a program that has truly had a positive impact on both students and staff.
“When I first discovered ST Math, I had just been named principal at Martin Elementary, and the school had been identified as one of the 10 lowest performing schools in Santa Ana. Our school population was over 98% Hispanic, over 97% free- and reduced-lunch and over 89% English language learners. We had heard about the positive impact the ST Math program had on nearby Madison Elementary School, a school very similar in population (and where I am principal today).
“ST Math’s impact can be seen in both schoolwide and individual student impact. Some students who had difficulty in reading, and really in all subject areas, began using ST Math and quickly moved through the program. We were able to identify students’ incredible mathematical ability that we did not see with the use of traditional instructional methods like textbooks.
“ST Math has helped us to motivate the students and build their self-confidence. Students are excited about learning new math concepts, and often you see students make connections in the classroom to the interactive games played in ST Math. Students in third grade would often have difficulty learning place value. As a school, we decided to have students play one of the ST Math games prior to learning the concept. As teachers introduced the concept, a student would shout out, “That is just like the JiJi game!” (JiJi is the penguin character in all of the ST Math games.) Students are able to visualize concepts by making connections between the math games and math concepts being taught in class.
“While ST Math software games use interactive, graphically-rich animations that visually represent mathematical concepts to improve conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills and incorporates the latest research in learning and the brain and promotes mastery-based learning and mathematical understanding, it is so much more. It makes learning fun and helps us to identify students’ strengths and build their confidence. ST Math has enabled teachers to reach all students at their level, helps students to access technology, and provides students with opportunities to be successful learners and has helped students to develop a love of mathematics and learning.”
For more information at about ST Math, please visit: http://www.mindresearch.org
