Middle School

How Research Shaped the LEAP Curriculum for Early Algebra 

As seen in EdWeek 

The LEAP Curriculum, created by TERC and sold by Didax, was recently featured in an article in EducationWeek. The article explores how early algebraic thinking develops in young children and highlighted the research behind Project LEAP. What follows is a summary of that piece along with key program insights from the LEAP authors. 

For many years, algebra has been viewed as a middle school milestone, a moment when students suddenly transition from working with numbers to working with letters. Yet research from TERC and its university partners shows that the thinking behind algebra begins much earlier. This insight became the foundation for Project LEAP, a multi-year study dedicated to understanding how young children build the ideas that prepare them for success in later algebra. The LEAP Curriculum grew directly out of this body of research, bringing early algebraic thinking into

Manipulatives Make Algebra Learning Concrete for Upper Levels 

Every middle school math classroom presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Students arrive with solid arithmetic skills but often struggle as they move toward abstract ideas in algebra. When lessons begin with symbols and rules alone, many students quickly lose confidence. Hands-on learning provides a bridge, giving students something concrete to think with as they make sense of new concepts. 

Little Minds, Big Numbers: The Importance of Math in Preschool Classrooms 

Hands-on math in preschool is about more than numbers—it’s about building curiosity, problem-solving, and essential thinking skills. From sorting and measuring to patterns and counting, playful activities lay the foundation for lifelong math success. These activities don't just teach math—they teach kids how to think. 

Let’s count, sort, measure, and build our way into bright mathematical futures—one playful moment at a time! 

A primer on counting skills in the early years 

Mathematical Foundation

By Christine Hopkinson  

Pre-K – grade 1 educators know all too well the importance of math in the early years and research confirms, “Children’s early mathematical knowledge serves as a predictor of later mathematics success and their college and career opportunities.” (Shah et al. 2018; Watts et al. 2014).  

 

Spatial ability or visualization is essential in engineering and scientific fields. It is the skill of understanding where objects are in space in relation to each other and how they interact. Geometiles is a tool for children to develop spatial awareness either in a self-directed or teacher-directed way. Whichever way you use Geometiles, they give children an opportunity to develop resourcefulness and hone their problem solving skills.