Math Minds is a collaborative partnership of the Werklund School of Education University of Calgary, various school districts and JUMP Math. This initiative is generously funded by TD Bank Group's TD Ready Challenge Grant. Initially, this initiative was funded by the Canadian Oil Sands (2012-2017) and subsequently by the Suncor Energy Foundation (2018-2021) with contributions made by the University of Calgary and JUMP Math. It is the result of sustained engagement among partners. The broad aim of the initiative is to strengthen numeracy among students in Grades 1 to 6.
The Math Minds approach is neither traditional nor reform as those terms are commonly understood. While traditional approaches offer much-needed structure, and reform approaches highlight the importance of sense-making, it can be difficult to structure sense-making in a way that supports all learners in engaging with conceptually sound mathematical ideas. For those with gaps in their understanding, finding a suitable entry point is key, and providing meaningful opportunities for extension and further learning is essential for all. Math Minds offers practical ways to make this happen.
Math Minds offers two key professional learning initiatives for educators: a free online course and an online community. Scroll down for more information.
Here’s a summary of some of our results over a recent 5-year stretch, comparing learners involved in Math Minds to their peers across Canada. Please note that our data indicate, with extreme confidence, that our approach contributes to general improvement in mathematics performance including computational fluency, conceptual understanding and problem solving (as measured by national percentile ranks on the Canadian Test of Basic Skills, or CTBS). In fact, the largest improvements we’ve seen are in problem solving and conceptual understanding.
Please further note that these data represent year-over-year improvements. Learners don’t experience a one-time boost in achievement. They continue to accelerate as they experience this manner of teaching.
For more information on our publications, please click on the button below to visit the Math Minds Online Community.
This course aims to provide a user’s introduction to a coherent, theory-rich, evidence-based approach to teaching mathematics. While the principles we present in the course apply to all levels, the majority of the examples and illustrations we offer are derived from elementary level mathematics.
Explore the impactful stories and experiences shared by educators who have embarked on the Math Minds journey. Our testimonials provide a firsthand look at how this innovative course has transformed teaching practices and enhanced mathematical understanding in classrooms across Canada. Each testimonial reflects the unique perspective of teachers who have integrated the RaPID model into their teaching, revealing the profound effects on both educators and students alike.
