@ Math Success by DMTI
2025-04-04 20:13:12
Lovely seeing you here. Hello there, and welcome to our very first post! We’re the team behind Math Success by DMTI, and we’re thrilled for this journey with you. If you’re a teacher, parent, or just someone who cares about kids and learning, you’ve probably noticed something: math education isn’t working well for most everyone. Too many students dread it, too many teachers feel stuck, and too many classrooms are stuck in a cycle of rote memorization that leaves most everyone uninspired.
We’re here to change that—and that’s why we’ve built Math Success by DMTI, the leading K-6 Math Education Program.
The Problem: Math Isn’t Adding Up Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Math education often misses the mark. Kids are taught to memorize times tables or follow steps without understanding why they work. It’s like handing someone a recipe without teaching them how to cook—they might make the dish, but they won’t know what to do when the ingredients change. Studies show U.S. students lag behind many peers globally in math, and the gap widens as they move through school. Why? Because we’ve prioritized procedures over meaning, drills over discovery, and compliance over curiosity.
The result? Students who see math as a chore, not a chance to explore. Teachers, meanwhile, are stretched thin—juggling standards, testing pressures, and outdated methods that don’t spark joy or learning. It’s no wonder so many kids say, “I’m just not a math person.” But here’s the thing: we believe everyone can be a math person—if we teach it right.
Our Solution: Math Success by DMTI That’s where Math Success by DMTI comes in. Born from the Developing Mathematical Thinking Institute and over 40 years of research, our program isn’t just another curriculum—it’s a rethink of how math should feel and function in the classroom. We’ve seen the data: classrooms using our approach see an average 35% jump in achievement. But more than that, they see kids who love math and teachers who can’t wait to teach it.
So, how do we do it? It starts with our Developing Mathematical Thinking framework—a five-part recipe for success:
Listen to Kids & Build on Their Ideas: We build on what students already know, making math personal and relevant.
Speak the Right Language: We use the structural words unit, compose, decompose, iterate, partition, and equal to help kids communicate and connect to math across topics.
Understand First, Calculate Later: Concepts come before procedures, so kids grasp the “why” before the “how.”
Models and real-world connections: From blocks to drawings to numbers, we use models to make math tangible and fun while helping connect math to real life.
Embrace Misconceptions & Mistakes: Missteps aren’t failures but chances to learn and grow.
This isn’t the math you grew up with. It’s active, engaging, and built to stick. Teachers tell us it’s a game-changer—“I have never loved teaching math as much as I do now; math has come alive in my classroom. My students are further along now than any class I’ve ever taught before.” one said, “I could see the light bulbs going off like never before, and they’re excited!” Kids tell us, “Math is fun now!” And the numbers back it up: that 35% boost isn’t just a stat—it’s a sign of deeper understanding and real confidence.
Why it matters Math isn’t just about numbers; it’s about thinking, solving problems, and opening doors. When kids succeed in math, they gain skills for life—whether they’re headed to STEM careers or just figuring out their budget. But beyond that, we want them to love it. To see math as a playground, not a prison. That’s our mission: successful learning and a genuine love for mathematics, one classroom at a time.
What’s Next? This Substack is our space to share that mission with you. Expect stories from teachers and students, dives into our framework, tips for bringing math to life, and updates on our free courses (yep, free!). We’re partnering with educators like you to make this happen—because we can turn math education around together.
So, stick with us. Subscribe below, drop a comment with your thoughts, and start building a world where math adds joy, not stress. Welcome to Math Success by DMTI—let’s make math work for everyone.