Latest news with #math
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas students make gains in reading but struggle with math, STAAR scores show
Texas' students saw some wins in reading but continued to struggle to bounce back from pandemic-related learning losses in math, state testing results released Tuesday showed. Elementary students who took the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam this year made the biggest gains in reading across grade levels. Third graders saw a three percentage point increase in reading, a milestone because early literacy is a strong indicator of future academic success. Progress among middle students in the subject, meanwhile, slowed. 'These results are encouraging and reflect the impact of the strategic supports we've implemented in recent years,' said Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. 'We are seeing meaningful signs of academic recovery and progress.' Morath also acknowledged students needed more help to make similar gains in math. Five years after pandemic-related school closures, students are still struggling to catch up in that subject, the results showed. About 43% of students met grade-level standards for math, compared to 50% in 2019. The STAAR exam tests all Texas public school students in third through eighth grade in math and reading. A science test is also administered for third and eighth graders, as well as a social studies test for eighth graders. The test scores give families a snapshot of how Texas students are learning. School accountability ratings — which the Texas Education Agency gives out to each district and campus on an A through F scale as a score for their performance — are also largely based on how students do on the standardized tests. The test often casts a shadow over classrooms at the end of the year, with teachers across the state saying they lose weeks of valuable instructional time preparing children to take the test. Parents also don't like the test because of its high-stakes nature and the enormous pressure it puts on students. A bill that would have scrapped the STAAR test died in the last days of the 2025 legislative session. Both Republican and Democratic legislators expressed a desire to overhaul STAAR, but in the end, the House and Senate could not align on what they wanted out of an alternative test. Legislators this session did expand support for the state's youngest students to help them catch up before they first take their STAAR test in third grade. A sweeping school finance package also included new statewide assessment tools in early childhood learning, and targeted academic intervention for students who are struggling. This is a developing story; check back for details. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Simple looking math problem leaves people stumped - are you smarter than a 5th grader?
A simple arithmetic problem has left internet users scratching their heads - with only a few landing on the correct solution to this elementary school-level equation. While most people learned the concept needed to simplify these kinds of equations by the time they turned 10, many attempters drew a blank this time around. The key to getting to the bottom of this seemingly straightforward problem is to call upon every mathematicians' favorite acronym - PEMDAS. Each letter represents a math symbol in the order they are meant to be done when they come up in a problem. Anything inside parentheses (P) should be worked out first. Secondly, exponents (E) should be addressed. Next should be multiplication and division (MD), but multiplication does not necessarily have to come before division. The correct method is to address them from left to right as the are written in the equation. Lastly, addition and subtraction (AS). When only those two operations remain, the sum can be solved from left to right because the order makes no difference. Here's the equation, give it a go before reading on: Under the X post, shared by user BreakTheSilos, that first sparked the mathematical confusion, some users confidently claimed the answer was 0 or 1. But both solutions are incredibly incorrect. Applying PEMDAS, the first step to solving this problem is to tackle what's inside the parentheses: 3 + 5. After performing basic addition, you get 5, making the new equation 45 ÷ 9 (5). At this stage, some people fell into a trap. Instead of following PEMDAS, they decided to multiply 9 and 5, leaving them with the flawed expression 45 ÷ 45. Instead of this faulty method, you must remember that multiplication and division is to address them from left to right. Keeping that in mind, the correct second step is to solve 45 ÷ 9, which equals 5. Now, left with 5(5), the only thing to do is to multiply 5 x 5, finally getting you the correct answer of 25.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Amid Math Crisis, Seattle Nonprofit Helps 6.5M Students Beat the Math Slide
SEATTLE, WA, UNITED STATES, June 11, 2025 / / -- As our nation faces challenges with math scores and student anxiety, one small nonprofit in West Seattle is quietly making a remarkable impact around the globe. During the 2024–25 school year alone, XtraMath —a daily fluency practice program—has reached over 6.1 million students and 650,000 teachers, helping learners develop vital math skills and confidence through just 10 minutes a day. • 132 million student days • 12.4 million trophies earned • 3.3 million fluency certificates awarded • Used in 5 languages, across 5 continents While national assessments like the NAEP reveal some historic lows in basic math performance, the data from XtraMath paints a more uplifting story—one of growth, equity, and daily progress. The Math Crisis, By the Numbers 40% of 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders now score below the basic level in math \\ Source → NAEP 2024 60% of U.S. adults report that math makes them feel 'challenged' or 'confused' \\ Source → Gallup 2024 'Educators and Families are desperate for help to reverse the slide, with the focus on expensive AI tutors and just sitting kids in front of random games,' said Roy King, Executive Director of XtraMath. 'A simple, ten-minute daily habit helped millions of kids develop math fact fluency this year.' Real Impact, Real Growth This year, teachers assigned over 3.7 million fluency programs, with 88% of students achieving mastery. In case studies like East End Prep in Nashville, low-performing students soared double-digit percentile jumps on the Spring MAP test after just one semester of consistent XtraMath use. 'The difference across our math classrooms was palpable.' — K. Williams, Dean of STEM, East End Prep, TN. The secret? XtraMath combines research-based fluency practice with built-in motivation and minimal teacher lift—making it easy to implement and impactful to use.' 2024–25 Highlights & Innovations This year, XtraMath has rolled out a series of platform upgrades and partnerships, making the program more inclusive, customizable, and effective than ever: • WCAG 2.1 Accessibility compliance to support learners with disabilities • Clever SecureSync for effortless rostering and classroom setup • Advanced school-level reporting for administrators • Assessment-Only Program to identify fluency gaps • Awakening Game Mode, powered by Legends of Learning partnership, for curriculum-aligned fun • National Math Stars partnership to celebrate student achievement • Educator Endorsements Recent survey results confirm that the platform isn't just effective—it's cherished: • 93% of educators agree XtraMath helps students meet grade-level standards • 87% say it builds confidence and eases math anxiety • Net Promoter Score: 73 — indicating high educator satisfaction and strong word-of-mouth trust Looking Ahead As XtraMath looks to the 2025–26 school year, the mission remains clear: ensure every learner, regardless of background or ability, builds a strong foundation in math through consistent, accessible practice. 'Every minute a student doesn't spend counting on their fingers is a minute they can apply to learning fractions, data science, or even coding,' said Roy King, Executive Director of XtraMath. 'We're scaling evidence-based fluency practice to every classroom that wants it—no ads, no cost.' With national trends showing persistent learning gaps, the urgency is real—but so is the solution. The path forward isn't hidden behind expensive programs or flashy tech. It's found in daily habits that reinforce essential skills, empower teachers, and unlock student potential—one 10-minute session at a time. Learn more or bring XtraMath to your school: [email protected] Roy King XtraMath +1 805-619-8720 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Grade school math problem confuses people but the answer is actually easy - can you solve it in 30 seconds?
A seemingly simple math problem has left social media users confused as they argue over the correct answer. The equation, shared by user @BholanathDutta on X, appears simple enough for grade school students - but users were left with different answers. The problem reads: 4 - (4 ÷ 4) x 2 = ? Can you solve the problem within 30 seconds? At first glance, it looks like basic arithmetic that a typical middle schooler could solve. Yet users commented conflicting answers, causing a debate. The majority of respondents confidently answered 2, while others wrote that they believed the correct answer to be -2. The confusion stems from a simple math rule - the order of operations. The acronym PEMDAS (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) determines which calculations to perform first in math equations. It's important to break down the problem step by step. 4 - (4 ÷ 4) x 2 = ? First, solve what's inside the parentheses: 4 ÷ 4 = 1 This gives us: 4 - 1 x 2 Next, perform the multiplication: 1 x 2 = 2 Finally, subtract: 4 - 2 = 2 The correct answer is 2. Those who arrived at -2 likely made the mistake of working from left to right without following the proper order of operations. Others could have calculated: 4 - 4 = 0, then 0 ÷ 4 = 0, then 0 x 2 = 0, giving them an incorrect final answer. This type of math puzzle regularly goes viral on social media platforms. Last week, @BholanathDutta shared another math riddle with followers, asking 'Can you solve this #math' alongside an image decorated with colorful flowers. The post shows a calculation that looks simple: 500 + 450 ÷ 5. The post has now been viewed more than 3,000 times, with dozens of commenters sharing their answers. But not everyone agrees on the solution. The overwhelming majority of respondents believe the answer is 590, with many users showing their working to prove their point. One user methodically explained their approach. They wrote: '500 + 450 ÷ 5 = ? 450 ÷ 5 = 90, 500 + 90 = 590.'
CBS News
03-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Bronx public school teacher surprised with $25,000 FLAG Award for Teaching
A South Bronx Teacher won a $25,000 award Thursday. Angelo Imperati, a math teacher at P.S 75 School of Research and Discovery in the Bronx was at a loss for words after learning he was a grand prize winner of the FLAG Award for Teaching. The award recognizes New York City Public School teachers from each borough who inspire learning through creativity, passion, and commitment. Imperati has taught at P.S 75 in the Bronx for 18 years. Laura Twersky, the co-president of the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education, presented the surprise $25,000 check to Imperati inside of the school's auditorium with some of his students in attendance to congratulate him. "I feel like everyone has that teacher, that once in a lifetime teacher who long after they graduate, they'll look back and say, I remember Mr. Imperati you know, and we feel he's that he's that kind of teacher," Twersky said. Some of his colleagues, like Patricia McQueen, nominated him for the award. "I think he's a phenomenal teacher. I think he has a great math mind. I think that he has the ability to bring out the confidence in kids that I found that most of them didn't have," McQueen said. Imperati is recognized this year out of 1,600 nominations for improving the grade-level passing rate in math for 5th graders at the school from 46% to 66%. In his own classroom, that number climbs even higher. "In regard to the math scores, I just find ways to, you know, through stories, examples, real life examples to get the math in their heads. And it's working because last year of the students I saw at 79% were proficient. And I'm hoping to increase that number this year," explained Imperati. When Imperati isn't teaching math, he's coaching students to play basketball in a league he started. "It's my pleasure. So give back to the community that I grew up in. I just wanted to give the kids an outlet. Something to do after school, keep them off the streets," Imperati shared. P.S 75 will also receive a $10,000 grant from the FLAG Foundation for Excellence in Education for use in an arts-based initiative. Imperati says plans to use the money to travel with his family to Italy, but until then he'll continue doing what he loves. "This is my calling in life. And, every, every time I get up and come to work, comes to work with a smile because my students are my everything," said Imperati. To learn more about the FLAG Award for Teaching, click here. You can email Erica with Bronx story ideas by CLICKING HERE.
