Help Students Build Numerical Reasoning
Math is about more than finding the correct answer. It's about using numerical reasoning to find the best strategy for solving a problem. Created by Marilyn Burns, one of America's most trusted math educators, and a team of master educators, Do The Math® provides flexible, classroom-tested instruction for building numerical reasoning and confidence. Whether used for core instruction in numerical reasoning, pull-out intervention, or summer school settings, Do The Math provides effective instruction at any elementary grade level.
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Overview Testimonials Summer School Professional Development Outcomes Research Authors
Every Child Deserves a Confident Start
Created by award-winning educator Marilyn Burns
Supports any Response to Intervention (RTI) strategy
Can be used with all core programs as supplemental or intervention
Every student can succeed
Hear about Do The Math from Marilyn Burns.
Overview
Build a solid mathematical foundation with classroom-tested lessons
"Classroom tested" means there's plenty of support in each module's 30 half-hour lessons. Teachers build capacity as students move from basic conceptual understanding to skills development in addition and subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions.
- Addition and Subtraction
NUMBER CORE
Supports the development of quantity by using benchmark numbers, thinking flexibly about composing and decomposing numbers, and building facility with figuring sums.A: ADDITION WITH SUMS UP TO 100
Builds on the big idea that â10â is an organizer for our number system.B: SUBTRACTION WITH NUMBERS UP TO 100
Reinforces addition and subtraction as inverse operations and teaches the three meanings of subtraction: take-away, missing parts, and comparison problems.C: NUMBERS GREATER THAN 100
Applies these big ideas to calculations with greater numbers and provides strategies for solving word problems. - Multiplication
A: BASIC CONCEPTS
Provides visual and contextual models to help students understand the meaning of multiplication, supporting the shift from thinking additively to thinking multiplicatively.B: FACTS THROUGH 12x12
Uses an array model to represent the basic facts and demonstrate key concepts and strategies for multiplication.C: FACTORS GREATER THAN 12
Develops strategies for making estimates and computing products with two- and three-digit factors, using the distributive property and multiplying by multiples of 10. - Division
A: BASIC CONCEPTS
Builds upon the idea that division is inverse to multiplication and provides computational methods for solving division problems, using contextual and concrete methods to support the two meanings of divisionâsharing and ungrouping.B: FACTS THROUGH 100÷10
Applies the inverse relationship between multiplication and division to make sense of divisibility and the concept of taking out a quantity by groups of 10.C: DIVIDENDS TO 1000
Extends to dividing two- and three-digit dividends by two-digit divisors, engages students in exploring divisibility, and provides experiences with solving contextual problems involving greater numbers. - Fractions
A: BASIC CONCEPTS
Connects and builds upon the big ideas of whole numbers as they apply to fractions, using concrete materials to help students give meaning to the abstract idea of fractions.B: EQUIVALENCE AND COMPARISON
Helps students learn key strategies for comparing and ordering fractions while keeping the instructional focus on the meaning of the fractions being compared.C: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
Builds on what students have learned in order to develop the computational tools and strategies to add and subtract fractions, including improper fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators.
Student Engagement
Strategically placed formative assessments support students’ progress.
Middle-of-module assessment
Pre- and post-module assessments
Students complete online assessments for a pre-module snapshot of what they know and a post-module portrait of all theyâve learned.
Letters from Marilyn
Detailed preparation materials before each set of five lessons include Letters From Marilyn.
Step-by-step instruction
Every lesson begins with objectives, and then itâs on to detailed, step-by-step instruction.
Mid-module assessments
Every fifth lesson offers an assessment so teachers can regularly monitor student progress.
Hands-on learning helps build conceptual understanding
The Digital Student Experience
Games and manipulatives
Partner games and manipulatives play a crucial role in supporting and extending learning throughout the modules.
Student WorkSpace®
The WorkSpace is designed to support studentsâ transition to independent work and to help teachers monitor studentsâ progress and understanding.
The Digital Student Experience
The digital student app gives each child full access to interactive visual models and partner games.
Teacher Support
Materials provide clear instructional guidance and professional support.
Do The Math lesson example - Writing Fraction Equations
The Teacher Bookcase
All of the teaching resources for each module are stored in the teacher bookcase for clear instructional guidance and easy lesson planning.
Thoughtfully designed lessons
Every lesson models mathematical thinking, provides visual representations, and includes point-of-use support.
The Digital Teacher Experience
The digital tool includes professional development videos plus instructional add-ons, downloads, online games, and progress monitoring.
Teachers Talk About Do The Math
"After 10 years of classroom teaching, I felt that this year I was finally teaching math successfully."
Sara Liebert, Instructional Reform Facilitator, John Muir Elementary School
Learn more about Sara's experience using Do The Math and hear from other educators at John Muir Elementary.
Read the Case Study (PDF)
Rashida Carter, a first year teacher teaching fourth grade, especially liked the timeliness of these assessments.
Kristin Matthews discusses the digital tools that come with Do The Math.
Justin Stoddard, a third-grade teacher with 11 years of classroom experience reflects on his experience with Do The Math.
Summer School
Unlock the math potential in every student
Do The Math Summer School helps students in Grades 1â5 rebuild their math foundation. Designed for at-risk and struggling students, as well as those who require more practice, the program provides the skills and understanding students need to progress to grade-level proficiency during the school year.
Summer school specific design
Do The Math experts and authors created detailed Planning Guides that address a variety of summer school implementations.
Easy to implement
From day one, teachers have the embedded professional learning and point-of-use support they need to confidently guide students through summer math.
Rebuilds a solid foundation
With scaffolded instruction, students progress from basics to more complex operational work and rebuild their understanding of key math concepts.
Engaging for students
Classroom-tested instructional practices facilitate differentiation and meet the needs of every student.
Professional Development
Do The Math Getting Started PD and Coaching
Do The Math Getting Started PD develops teachersâ understanding of the Do The Math supplemental program and how its classroom-tested instruction builds studentsâ numerical reasoning. Teachers learn how to support the development of their studentsâ understanding and skills with whole numbers and fractions by using Do The Math lessons, games, childrenâs literature, and assessments.
During Do The Math Coaching coaches work with school leaders and classroom teachers to build on the Getting Started PD experience, creating learning partnerships that are sustainable, data-driven, and customized to participantsâ particular needs.
Learn More and Inquire
Outcomes
Focus on effective teaching
Build and strengthen numerical reasoning
Demonstrate understanding
Strengthen vocabulary for English learners
Restore student confidence
Research & Results
Do The Math has a long history of turning research into practice.
ESSA Evidence Criteria for Do The Math
Overview of how Do The Math meets ESSA âMODERATEâ evidence criteria.
Read the Overview
Do The Math Clear Creek Independent School District Efficacy Study
Significant improvement was seen across the 51 Grade 2 classrooms that implemented Addition and Subtraction Modules A and B.
Read the Study
Do The Math St. Louis Park Public Schools Efficacy Study
Students in grades 3-5 showed performance improvements on the NWEA MAP assessment and on ProgressSpace assessments after using Do The Math.
Read the Study
Meet the Authors
Created by Marilyn Burns and a team of master educators.
Marilyn Burns is one of today’s most highly respected mathematics educators. In 1984, she formed Math Solutions Professional Development, an organization dedicated to the improvement of math instruction in Grades K–8.
Over the course of more than 55 years, Marilyn has taught children, led in-service sessions, and written acclaimed professional learning and children’s books. Marilyn continues to teach regularly in the classroom, finding the experience essential to developing and testing new ideas and materials.
Marilyn and herDo The Mathcoauthors—Eunice Hendrix-Martin, Leo Kostelnik, Kris Lee, Melody Randel, Susan Scharton, Mallika Scott, Danielle Weill, Maryann Wickett, and Lynne Zolli—continue to refine their methods for supporting students who struggle with math so every child has a real chance for success.
Keep up with Marilyn on her Blog 
Follow Marilyn on Twitter @MBurnsMath
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