Archive for the ‘Learning Research’ Category

In preschools today, math is too often ignored. “It’s fair to say the attention is almost entirely on reading and literacy, without recognizing the importance of math,” said Christopher T. Cross, who co-edited the report and chaired the committee that produced it. Children entering kindergarten need to be “ready” in math as well as reading, and research -- and my experience watching my own preschoolers -- shows that preschoolers are as curious and interested in numbers and counting and measuring as they are with everything else.

We've had a lively discussion in the DreamBox offices this week after someone circulated a recent Science Daily article "Self-regulation Game Predicts Kindergarten Achievement." The article describes early childhood development research (by Claire Ponitz from the University of Virginia and Megan McClelland of Oregon State University) that assessed the effectiveness of a game called the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) task. The researchers discovered that children who did well on this this simple, 5-minute self-regulation game in the fall achieved strong scores in reading, vocabulary, and math in the spring, compared to students who had low performance on the task. The research also showed that the children who performed well on the task scored 3.4 months better than their peers who performed at average levels on mathematics learning.

I came across a short but compelling interview with MIT professor Henry Jenkins at the recent interactive conference SxSWi.

There’s no question that a strong foundation in algebra is one key to raising academic standards, increasing the competitiveness of our future workforce and opening doors to broader career choices for students.

Soon after we completed our first round of beta testing with our very first version of DreamBox (think 40 games as compared to our current 350+), I attended an incredible conference called Dust or Magic, an annual Children’s New Media Design Institute, organized by Warren Buckleitner, editor of the Children’s Technology Review.

Stella is the narrator and host of DreamBox Learning K-2 Math! Stella introduces DreamBox students to the magical adventure park and prepares them for their adventures in math learning. As students play games, uncover clues, and learn lots of math, Stella is a fun and consistent guide through the world of DreamBox.

It is always nice to have a fresh perspective on old traditions, but math on a holiday? Many kids will groan if their parents suggest such a thing. There is a way to make the connection between Thanksgiving and math, but it’s always nice to start off this lesson with a story...

I just got back from a great three day "Dust or Magic" conference run by Warren Buckleitner for people who create children's technology products. (The title is a quote from a 17th century philosopsher named Matsuo Basho: "An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.")

We've had a lively discussion in our office this week about the recent New York Times article on issues in US math education in general, and in encouraging girls to be successful in math in particular...

I know parents wonder what’s the appropriate age for their children to begin learning to use the computer. Common sense dictates that there’s probably an age at which it’s too early to begin exposing children to computers, even though children are often attracted to it quite young because they see family members using it...

I had the opportunity to talk with a number of parents over the last few weeks while their children were in the office testing the upcoming version of our math learning adventures, DreamBox Learning K-2 Math. And as we often hear, many wise parents told me they limit “screen time” for their children.

Recently I wrote about one of the key issues in the recent Bellevue teacher strike: the mandated scripted curriculum. But this is a complex issue and I think there’s a larger point to be made about this: the connection between the standardized curriculum and standardized testing.

There is much debate surrounding whether or not listening to classical music affects intelligence (read the Science Daily's pro take and the Skeptic's Dictionary's con.) Official studies aside, I personally believe the connection with music is not only to intelligence, but also to math. Especially for those who play(ed) instruments.

Just as parents need to make sure their children eat a mix of healthy foods - with reasonable limits on junk food and sweets - we need to have the same mindset about what our children watch. That’s the message of a recent New York Times article: Limiting, and Watching, What Children Watch, by Lisa Guernsey, and I couldn’t agree more!

Psychologists from John Hopkins University recently published a study that shows a correlation between innate number sense and math achievement in school.