Pueblo, CO — Recognizing the growing challenges many students face in math, the Colorado Department of Education has partnered with 18 teachers statewide to create a free online math toolkit aimed at improving student performance and understanding in the subject. The initiative is designed to help students and their families break down complex math problems into simpler, more manageable steps, providing vital support as math scores across the state have been on the decline.
The toolkit, which is divided by grade level, offers a range of interactive activities, assessments, and lesson plans that can be used both in the classroom and at home. The resources are intended to make learning math more accessible for students of all ages, with an emphasis on visual and hands-on strategies to engage learners.
Among the teachers contributing to the project is Selena Lucero, a seventh-grade math teacher at Fountain Middle School. Lucero played a key role in developing resources focused on helping students grasp ratios and proportions. She explained that her approach was to incorporate methods like double number lines, tape diagrams, and other hands-on activities to make abstract concepts easier for students to understand.
“My goal was to find ways to bring ratios and proportions into the toolkit, while also using strategies that students could easily relate to and use in their learning,” Lucero said.
One student who has already benefited from the toolkit is eighth-grader Dylan Gessner. Gessner, who struggled with math concepts like volume, fractions, and percentages last year, found the toolkit to be an invaluable resource. After spending an hour working through problems involving fractions, variables, and graphs, he reported that the immediate feedback provided by the toolkit helped him identify areas where he needed further practice.
“Being able to see the answer sheet right after so you know what you got wrong and what you need to work on, that’s definitely valuable and very helpful,” Gessner said.
The decline in math scores in Colorado since 2020 has highlighted the need for additional resources like this toolkit. Teachers involved in the project are hopeful that the toolkit will help students feel more confident in their math abilities. Lucero expressed her desire for students to build confidence in their learning, emphasizing that struggles in math are normal and can be overcome with the right tools and support.
“I just want our students to be more confident math learners with the tools provided and understand that if they don’t get something right now, that’s okay. We can continue to reteach until they feel successful,” Lucero said.
As students like Gessner find success with the toolkit, teachers are optimistic that its widespread use will help address the ongoing challenges in math education and provide struggling students with the support they need to succeed.
