How children's learning games can help address the math gap
Every good parent strives to ensure a successful future for their children. There is no magic formula, but a recent landmark study of 35,000 preschoolers in Canada, England, and the United States provides some insight.
Early math learning is the best predictor of future success
According to Greg Duncan, Northwestern University's Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy, an early understanding of math concepts is the most powerful predictor of school success. "We find the single most important factor in predicting later academic achievement is that children begin school with a mastery of early math and literacy concepts." And math skills are of paramount importance. "Mastery of early math skills predicts not only future math achievement, it also predicts future reading achievement," Duncan said.1
The fact that a head start in learning helps children achieve greater academic success is not surprising. What is striking however is that, according to this study, mastery of early math concepts supersedes every other factor in predicting children's future academic achievement. Math readiness was found to be more important than reading skills, and even various social and behavioral factors were found to be less relevant in predicting later success in school. This suggests that a marked shift in how parents support their children's early education is in order.
An online children's learning game that makes math fun
DreamBox Learning gives parents an engaging way to make math an important part of their children's early learning experience. We believe that kids learn best when they are having fun. At the same time, online children's learning should be more challenging than the typical "edu-tainment" games. A quality learning product must be grounded in a solid curriculum and provide individualized instruction to inspire in-depth learning.
Building critical thinking skills
Math is a world of problem solving that's applicable in the world around us, and goes far beyond a student's ability to solve equations.
According to a report from the education division of the National Research Council of the National Academies, a systematic approach toward building proficiency is essential. "Five intertwined and equally important strands comprise the committee's definition of mathematical proficiency. First, capable students should be able to understand and apply important concepts. They also should be able to compute with ease, formulate and solve problems, and explain their reasoning. Finally, they should have confidence in their abilities and view mathematics as a sensible and worthwhile subject."2
A comprehensive, standards-based curriculum is the best way to accomplish these goals. DreamBox Learning can help transform math into an engaging, multi-faceted learning experience. It gives children rich opportunities for mathematic exploration and discovery, a comprehensive understanding of math facts, and it helps build the confidence that's needed for success in both school and in life.
"Simply developing speed in pencil-and-paper arithmetic may have been sufficient when their parents and grandparents were in school, but today's students need a deeper understanding of mathematics to thrive in an increasingly technical economy," said Jeremy Kilpatrick, Regents Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Georgia, Athens.
The importance of math education beyond the classroom
Not only will early math literacy boost children's academic performance, but it can broaden career prospects as well. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows a growing need for math in careers. By 2014, 6.3 million jobs are estimated to require science, engineering, or technical training — a 24% increase from 2004. And the National Science Board says math and science job opportunities are triple that of all other job areas.
Beyond math and critical thinking, DreamBox Learning also helps build other skills needed to succeed in our modern economy. A comfort level with the use of technology and the ability to navigate interactive online environments will help build confidence with the use of technology, both for learning and in many other areas of life.
Online children's learning games: a creative way for families to address America's "math gap"
The fact that the math skills of US students rank near the bottom among industrialized countries has been well publicized. In a 2006 report, U.S. mathematics test scores ranked 25th out of 30 countries.
How is this relevant for parents? The key is to emphasize the importance of math in everyday activities. Math isn't just numbers on a page — it's an integral part of life. It's counting silverware to set the table, finding patterns, recognizing shapes, and sorting groups of objects. It's calculating the distance and the time it takes to get to Grandma's house. Recognizing the mathematical principles behind everyday activities helps children master math. DreamBox Learning's approach to making math learning fun can help build fundamental skills in a uniquely engaging way, helping children thrive in a mathematics-rich world.3
Footnotes
1You can read about the study at http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/11/duncan.html. And you can learn about its primary author at http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/people/duncan.html.
2Read about the report at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=9822, or you can download the full report, Adding It Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics, for free at http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=9822.
3Read about the findings on the Alliance for Excellent Education website at http://www.all4ed.org/events/losingedge.
