Gift brings MIND Research Institute’s ST Math program to more than 900 Students
Denver Public Schools, DIRECTV, and the nonprofit MIND Research Institute are partnering to deliver a computer-based math program to three local Denver schools.
The grant from DIRECTV provides the ST Math game-based instructional software to more than 900 students at Carson Elementary, University Preparatory School, and Smith Renaissance School.
DIRECTV and MIND Research’s partnership in Denver builds on the DIRECTV Math Challenge, which was launched in Los Angeles in 2014 to drive student achievement and inspire K-12 students to love science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
(Next page: Educators at the school offer insight on how the math program will impact student learning)
Research shows that the ST Math program improves students’ understanding and academic growth in math.
“DIRECTV is excited to expand our partnership with MIND Research Institute to reach students and teachers in Denver,” said Mike White, chairman, president, and CEO of DIRECTV. “We know we can help foster a school culture that fully embraces math education and lays the foundation for future success in STEM fields.”
The DIRECTV grant provides the Denver schools with access to ST Math, teacher training, and year-round educational support. By celebrating the partnership and through special recognition, they are also encouraging a “JiJi culture” at the schools to help ensure success with the program.
“We are thrilled to partner with DIRECTV and MIND Research Institute to expand a successful blended learning approach,” said Emily El Moudaffar, principal of Smith Renaissance School. “Programs like ST Math will help students to be college and career ready and will help our school and DPS to achieve the vision: Every Child Succeeds.”
Developed by neuroscientists, MIND’s ST Math instructional software program provides visual, computer-based math games that support deep understanding of concepts covered by Colorado math standards at each grade level.
Because the program doesn’t rely on language proficiency or prior math success, it’s accessible for English Language Learners and children with learning disabilities. Students use ST Math on computers or tablet devices in a blended learning environment. The teachers are trained on how to connect the visual puzzles to their conventional symbolic texts, and coached on how to guide children through challenging sections by getting them to express their thinking, rather than simply showing them the solution. In numerous analyses over the years, schools using ST Math have experienced two to three times the growth in math proficiency compared to similar schools not using the program.
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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