A Letter from DreamBox Learning Chairman Ben Slivka

We've asked Ben Slivka, DreamBox Learning's co-founder and chairman, to share the vision that inspired him, together with CEO Lou Gray, to launch the company.

Using technology to help all kids learn
In the fall of 2004, my personal and professional passions came together when it first occurred to me to ask: what if you could combine the best in computer gaming with the best in learning?

My perspective on both has been shaped by my own experiences, having worked on software for 14 years at Microsoft and having raised three children who have attended both public and private schools in the Seattle area. I strongly believe that we can leverage technology to help improve learning for all students.

Kids learn differently
While this may strike you as an obvious statement, after closely watching my kids and many others over the past 16 years, I've come to understand that children are motivated by many different things and learn in many different ways.

And yet our schools — public or private — in most cases still operate a model of education that uses essentially the same teaching approach for all children. Great teachers of course make a difference, but funding issues often limit what is possible.

DreamBox Learning was founded on the belief that we really can deliver an individualized learning experience for every child, adapting the teaching to the way each child learns best and therefore improving that child's chances for success.

Why use games for learning?
DreamBox Learning uses games to teach because they are fun, and when kids are engaged we can present authentic challenges that inspire real learning.

Since the rise of PCs in the home, we've been raising a generation of "digital natives". I was an early adopter of "broadband" in the 1990's, so my kids (now 16, 14, and 12) don't remember a time before internet searches and ordering stuff from Amazon.com. In fact, an early computer game was a key reason why one of my kids was reading before Kindergarten.

Why DreamBox Learning K-2 math?
Soon after Lou Gray and I founded DreamBox Learning in February, 2006, we decided that our first product would focus on mathematics. There are countless reports about the falling math abilities of American kids^1,2. We knew that kids who did not master early math would continue to struggle in higher grade levels. And we decided to start with early math so that we could build up from that foundation.

Why now?
The combination of pervasive broadband home Internet access, ever-lower personal computer prices, and new software platforms make it possible for us to start delivering on our vision: a future where every student enjoys an individually-tailored, world-class learning experience. Broadband also makes it possible for us to continuously assess and adapt to the individual needs of each child.

There has never been a better time — or a more important time — to develop products that help kindergarten through twelfth grade students develop the math and logical thinking skills that are essential for success in school and life. DreamBox Learning is committed to this mission.

Ben Slivka, Chairman, DreamBox Learning

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Math Learning Tips for Busy Parents

At DreamBox Learning, we know parents want to be involved with their child's education. As a regular part of our monthly updates, we're including simple games parents can play with their young children during everyday activities. Parents can support the development of children's mathematics skills at any age by talking about the math in the world around them.

Here's a game you can play together that will help your child practice doubles. Your child picks a number between 1 and 10 and you double it. Then take turns — you pick the number and your child doubles it. You can also look for things in the environment that come in twos, like shoes and socks. Talk about the number of socks there are in a pair, and then how many you have if you have more pairs — for example 6 pairs of socks is 12 socks. Once your child starts noticing doubles he or she might be amazed at how many things come in two's, like eyes, ears, hands, gloves, and the like!

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Want to be a Beta Tester for DreamBox Learning K-2 Math?

DreamBox Learning K-2 Math is the only game that guides children to succeed by giving them individually-tailored instruction wrapped in fun web-based adventures! It's currently in beta testing. We are now beginning to select an additional group of students to participate in the next round of testing.

If you are interested in signing up your Pre-K, Kindergarten or 1st grade child (or children) for our next beta, please click here. (If you've already signed up to be invited to the next beta we promise to contact you — you don't need to sign up again!)

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