ST Math is a PreK-8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain's innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems. ST Math’s approach provides students with equitable access to learning through challenging puzzles, non-routine problem solving, and informative feedback.
With ST Math, students build deep conceptual understanding at their own pace in a gamified environment. ST Math will be used both in school with teacher support as needed and also independently at home. It is currently used by 1.3 million students (55,000 teachers) in 5,000 schools across 48 states.
JiJi is the ST Math mascot and main character. Students will work to solve puzzles to help JiJi move through obstacles. Learn more about JiJi here.
A third party, nationwide study was conducted including 42,000 students in 239 schools across 74 districts in 14 states. The study referenced 11 different state assessments, including SBA. More information on the study can be found here. The complete study can be read here.
Key findings indicate that "[schools] that consistently used ST Math outgrew similar schools in statewide rank by 14 percentile points." (ST Math)
Activation codes are assigned to families who purchase ST Math independently of a school district. There is no activation code required to utilize the BPS-assigned ST Math accounts.
One of the primary goals of ST Math is to promote Mathematical Practice #1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Students are encouraged to take time to observe the goings-on of the obstacle or problem set before them. There are not explicit instructions. Instead, the Mind Research Institute has designed ST Math in such a way as to mimic the video gaming environment that so many of our children already enjoy. They are given a task - in this case, help JiJi across the screen - and it is their duty to sort out how to do so. It can be difficult watching your child struggle to understand what is happening on the screen. Here are some strategies for supporting your child when this occurs.
Download the Facilitation Questions poster and ask your child each question.
What do you notice about the puzzle?
What can you click?
What can you do to get JiJi across the screen?
What question is this puzzle asking?
Describe the strategy that you are going to use.
Describe what you see after you click. What did you learn?
What will you do now? What do you expect to see?
What did you learn from the previous level that can help you here?
Provide your child with math manipulatives and scrap paper. Little hands need hands on math. Allowing them time to work with manipulatives before trying it on the screen will help to deepen conceptual understandings and minimize frustrations from on-screen errors. Many at-home items can be used as manipulatives including:
buttons
paperclips
Lego bricks
crayons
play dough
dried beans
cereal
clothespins
straws
egg cartons
cupcake tins
stickers
cotton balls, and many more!
Bring math into your home! Talk about math and point out when math is a part of your daily routine. Some ideas include:
Count how many steps it takes to get to the front door from your car. Now count how many steps it takes to get to the kitchen from the door. Which is more?
Make grocery lists together.
How many of each item will you need to have enough for your family?
What is your weekly budget?
Planning a party? Involve your child!
Budget: How much can we spend? What will we need to buy? How many guests will we have?
Scheduling: How much time should each part of the party take? How much time should elapse before cake comes out?
Math during play
How many blocks do you need to build a tower as tall as you?
What is the tallest tower you can build that will stand alone?
Are there certain blocks that are sturdier than others? Which ones and why?
All BPS students and staff will utilize ClassLink to access ST Math and other online curricular tools. Student logins will be shared by the classroom teacher when ST Math officially launches for 2020-2021.
Still have questions? Fill out the BPS ST Math Question Submission document and I will be touch!