Backed by Research, Proven by Results
Math & Movement strives to make learning fun and easy for students and empower teachers with strategies to help their students succeed. Across the US, K-8 students in over 300 schools made significant progress and gained confidence in math and literacy using the Math & Movement Program.
Boost Math Skills in Just 20 Minutes
Math & Movement can lead to noticeable improvements in students’ math skills with as little as 20 minutes of use. Research shows that the more lessons are taught kinesthetically, the faster students learn, the more they improve, and the greater their confidence and self-efficacy in mastering new concepts.
Featured Studies
Peer Reviewed Program
The Math & Movement Program has undergone peer review, with research showing significant boosts in students’ confidence and self-efficacy in multiplication. Students using Math & Movement saw notably better gains than with traditional methods.
Large Population Study
Nearly 500 Student Case Study
A nationwide study of 3rd–5th graders showed kinesthetic learning strategies drove 20% higher student engagement than traditional methods over eight weeks. Teachers also reported increased confidence and enthusiasm, highlighting the potential to transform classrooms.
Math Intervention Impact
A 3rd-grade class in Sarasota, FL, went from being the “bad news bears” to thriving in math with Math & Movement, nearly tripling their understanding of multiplication. The performance gap closed from 53% to 10%, showcasing significant improvement.
Tested with Controls
A year-long study in NC found that 89% of students in Math & Movement classrooms met or exceeded their RIT score goals, compared to 53% in occasional-use classrooms and 36% with no movement-based learning.
Our Program's Impact
When learning gets active, students get results. Explore the data that’s driving consistent change in classrooms nationwide.
89%
improvement in math scores in under 2 weeks
22k
educators using Math & Movement materials
81%
decrease in achievement gaps
47
states with schools implementing our programs
From Struggling to Thriving: How Math & Movement Transformed Student Beliefs and Classroom Dynamics
Listen as a principal and teacher share how their students went from hating math to believing they could succeed. Discover how Math & Movement bridged the gap, created harmony in the classroom, and turned challenges into confidence.
Empowering 18,000+ Educators Nationwide
The Math & Movement Program is trusted and loved by a network of over 18,000 educators. We are active in 47 different states across the country. As part of our method, teachers are encouraged to collect student data on how Math & Movement impacted their classrooms. This data is tangible proof of Math & Movement’s enormous positive impact on learning at all grade levels. Check out some of our success stories!
Math & Movement has been peer-reviewed! Our program has been determined to be statistically significant in enhancing multiplication confidence and self-efficacy.
Grade Level Data
Dr. King Elementary School
Syracuse City School District, Syracuse, NY
September 2017-April 2018
Description
Dr. King Elementary School is a Title I public school that teaches many students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. At the start of the kinesthetic intervention, most of the three- and four-year-old students in this class could not count to ten.
Math & Movement interventionists implemented kinesthetic teaching methods for 30 minutes daily, five days a week. Students practiced one-to-one correspondence and counting using cross-body exercises and by hopping on Math & Movement floor mats, including the Skip Counting by 2s mat (a number line to 20) and the Count to Ten mat.
After incorporating kinesthetic strategies, teachers immediately noticed an increase in their students’ retention of numbers when counting and in their students’ overall confidence when counting. By the end of October, almost every student could count to ten confidently. At the end of the intervention, nearly every student could count to twenty.
Results
- In as little as 6 weeks, one-to-one correspondence increased by 333%.
- Students’ ability to count to 10 increased by 275% within weeks of starting the program.
- Nearly every student could count to twenty by the end of the intervention.
Spring Creek Elementary School
Hamilton County School District, East Ridge, TN
Spring 2011
Description
Teachers used Math & Movement to introduce multiplication by 2s to a first-grade class. First, students took a pre-test. Then, students participated in active math movements for five minutes. Next, students jumped on the Skip Counting by 2s floor mat for 15 minutes. Finally, they learned how to solve multiplication by 2s problems on the mat. The session concluded with the students taking a post-test.
The pre- and post-tests each included 36 multiplication by 2s problems. Students were given five minutes to complete the problems.
Educators had previously attended a 6-hour Math & Movement workshop, where they learned how to use Math & Movement materials effectively. These results demonstrate student progress after engaging with movement-based strategies for about 30 minutes.
Results
- On the post-tests, which were completed after the lesson, nine students increased their score from their pre-test!
- The class increased their average score from 10 correct answers on the pre-test to 18 correct answers on the post-test. This is an improvement of 80% after just 30 minutes of Math & Movement!
- One student earned a perfect score (36/36) on the post-test.
- Two students doubled their pre-test scores on the post-test. Another two students tripled their pre-test scores, and another two students quadrupled their pre-test scores.
Benton Hall Academy
Little Falls School District, Little Falls, NY
May 2016
Description
This short program introduced multiplication to a second grade class with no previous multiplication knowledge using kinesthetic strategies. The students practiced skip counting and solving problems using the Skip Counting by 3s Mat. The teachers commented that the students learned how to use the floor mat as a tool to consistently determine the correct answer.
After the program, on the post-test, over half of the class had nearly every multiplication by 3s problem answered correctly! The teachers noticed a new enthusiasm, confidence, and focus toward math in their students.
Results
- On the post-tests, which were completed after the program, 56% of the students had nearly all 32 multiplication by 3s problems answered correctly.
- The class increased their average score from 15% on the pre-test to 81% on the post-test. This is a difference of 66 points and an amazing increase of 440%!
- Three students who scored 0% on the pre-test went on to score 100% on the post-test! These students went from knowing no multiplication to mastering multiplication by 3s in just 90 minutes using Math & Movement.
- Teachers commented that their students’ attitudes towards math changed from indifference to enthusiasm.
The absence of a gray pre-test bar indicates a score of 0%.
Ithaca City School District
Ithaca, NY
2016
Description
During this 4-day symposium, second-graders were introduced to multiplication by 3s using Math & Movement methods. First, students took a pre-test of 36 multiplication by 3s problems to measure their prior skills. Next, the second-grade students joined third-grade students in using the Skip Counting by 3s Mat. The students sang skip counting by 3s songs and took turns jumping on the mat.
Following that activity, the second-graders completed a practice worksheet of multiplication by 3s problems with a third-grade partner. For the next three days, the second-grade students completed practice worksheets independently and used the Skip Counting by 3s mat for help finding answers. To conclude the symposium, students completed a post-test.
Results
- Almost all of the students improved on their post-test compared to their pre-test scores!
- The class increased their average score from 9 correct answers on the pre-test to 17 correct answers on the post-test. This is an improvement of 89%!
- Two students increased their pre-test scores of 0 answers correct to 12 answers correct and 16 answers correct!
- Two students tripled their pre-test scores on the post-test, and another two students quadrupled their scores.
Suncoast School for Innovative Studies
Sarasota County School District, Sarasota, FL
April 2023
Description
This third grade class in a public charter school experienced a huge shift after a 10-day multiplication intervention. Math & Movement Founder and CEO Suzy Koontz worked with the students for two to three hours a day using our movements, activities, materials, and teaching strategies. The result was an incredible increase in multiplication fluency and a noticeable change in classroom behavior.
Even though this study was conducted at the end of the school year, this class was still struggling to understand multiplication. On top of that, the class had problems with bullying and disruptive behavior. Their teacher shared that the class was nicknamed the “bad news bears.”
Students learned how to skip count and multiply together using our Skip Counting Mats. Remarkably, in just 10 days, the class made more progress than they had throughout the entire school year. The students nearly tripled their understanding of multiplication, based on pre- and post-tests completed for each multiple.
Furthermore, their teacher immediately noticed an increase in student confidence, focus, and engagement. The principal even noticed how invested and excited the students were about learning math.
Results
- There was an average improvement of over 89% among students across all multiples.
- The largest improvement for a single in multiplication by 4s, with students averaging a remarkable 202% increase.
- Students made an impressive 118% improvement in their pre- and post-test scores for multiplication by 7s, a particularly challenging multiple.
- Students learned multiplication facts 4 times faster than traditional methods.
- The performance gap between the highest and lowest achieving students decreased from 53% to just 10% by the end of the program.
- Attendance improved, and disruptive behavior and bullying noticeably decreased!
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School
Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School District, Gilbertsville, NY
February 2023
Description
Math & Movement Founder and CEO Suzy Koontz led a one-hour virtual multiplication lesson through Zoom for a third-grade class in rural upstate New York. The lesson introduced kinesthetic learning strategies to the students, who knew how to skip count by 8s.
At the start of the lesson, students completed a two-page multiplication by 8s pre-test. During the lesson, students participated in active math movements led by Suzy to practice skip counting. They also took turns jumping on the Skip Counting by 8s floor mat. Finally, the students completed a post-test, which had the same questions as the pre-test.
After just a one-hour Math & Movement lesson, students significantly improved their multiplication by 8s skills. Every student had a post-test score at least 12 percentage points higher than their pre-test score. Suzy shared that there were high levels of engagement from both students and the classroom teachers. The students’ improvement underscores Math & Movement’s impact on learning efficiency and retention.
Results
- The students’ post-test scores increased by an average of 40 points when compared to the pre-test scores.
- Students made an impressive 105% improvement in their multiplication by 8s skills.
- The performance gap between the highest and lowest achieving students decreased from 64% to 56% in just one hour.
The Mighty Multiplication Project
19 Schools Across 8 States
Winter 2023
Description
The Mighty Multiplication Project sought to study the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies on students’ multiplication fluency and attitudes toward math. In partnership with the National Math Foundation, Math & Movement provided kinesthetic learning materials and resources to 19 schools in 8 states.
For 8 weeks, teachers used Math & Movement floor mats and activities to supplement their existing curriculum’s multiplication lessons. Students became familiar with the Skip Counting Mats, the Multiplication Hop Mat, and numerous active math movements.
Students completed a pre and post-test at the beginning and the end of the program to assess their multiplication fluency and changes in math attitudes. Teachers completed a survey before and after the program to assess their own attitudes toward teaching multiplication. They also used a log to track time spent on various activities and observed student engagement levels.
In the end, students who participated in these kinesthetic activities demonstrated statistically significant improvement in multiplication outcomes compared to students participating in traditional activities.
Results
- Project leads found a correlation between kinesthetic activities and the extent of learning improvement. The more time spent on kinesthetic activities, the more multiplication fluency increased.
- There was a considerable shift in student self-efficacy scores from their pre-test to their post-test.
- Kinesthetic activities saw greater levels of student engagement compared to traditional activities. A highly significant relationship exists between the types of math activities and the level of student engagement.
- There was a positive correlation between the average weekly time spent on kinesthetic activities and teacher self-efficacy scores. The more time that teachers spent doing kinesthetic activities, the higher they scored themselves on their ability to help students with multiplication and their own multiplication ability.
One Hour with Third Grade Group
July 2021
Description
Students started by taking a pre-test that included 32 multiplication by 3s problems. Then, students spent one hour doing active math movements and hopping on the Skip Counting by 3s mat to practice skip counting and multiplying by 3s. At the end of the hour, students took a post-test that also included 32 multiplication by 3s problems.
Results
The students improved their average test score by 95%, after just one hour of participating in Math & Movement!
Eagle Creek Elementary School
Arlington School District No.16, Arlington, WA
Winter 2021
Description
In the wake of educational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this third grade class embraced kinesthetic learning methods to master multiplication. Active math movements, the Skip Counting by 3s mat, and intervention sessions with Math & Movement Founder Suzy Koontz all played a key role in boosting the students’ understanding of multiplication by 3s.
Students took a pre-test to measure baseline knowledge before participating in any kinesthetic activities. They took a post-test one month into the program, during which they had access to the Skip Counting by 3s mat. During the second month, they stopped using the mat. Remarkably, when tested again a month later – this time without access to the mat or any other resources – their progress underscored the program’s lasting impact on their learning.
Results
- The average one month post-test score was 99%, illustrating that kinesthetic methods quickly boosted understanding
- One month post-test scores increased by an average of 94% from pre-test scores
- Two month post-test scores increased by an average of 63% from pre-test scores
- Students retained 67% of the information they learned, as indicated by their two month post-test scores
Davidson K-8 School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Davidson, NC
Spring 2017
Description
This diverse public school was awarded a grant and used funds to purchase Math & Movement materials. Teachers used these materials in daily lessons, at math stations, and during transition times in the hallway. Their goal was to improve individual student growth across all demographics and academic levels.
Third grade students, who we highlight below, were divided into three cohorts to test the effectiveness of Math & Movement. Cohort A consisted of two third grade classrooms that used the program consistently in lessons throughout the school year. Cohort B included two other classrooms that used the program inconsistently with less explicit instruction as a resource to enhance learning. Cohort C consisted of the remaining third grade classrooms that did not participate or use Math & Movement.
Results
A RIT score is an estimation of a student’s instructional level and measures student progress or growth.
- In Cohort A (who used Math & Movement consistently), 89% of students met or exceeded their projected RIT scores
- In Cohort B (who used Math & Movement inconsistently), 53% of students met or exceeded their projected RIT scores
- In Cohort C (who did not use Math & Movement), only 36% of students met or exceeded their projected RIT scores
The data suggests that students who had more opportunities to use the kinesthetic learning project made higher growth gains in mathematics.
J.D. George Elementary School
Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District, Verona, NY
November 2015
Description
Fifteen third graders in upstate New York participated in this two-day Math & Movement program.
Students took an identical pre-test and post-test. The tests contained 32 multiplication problems, focusing on only one multiple per student (i.e., some students focused on only multiplication by 3s while others focused only on multiplication by 4s). For both tests, students had one minute to solve as many problems as possible.
First, students took their pre-tests. Then, for four sessions over two days, they worked with their teachers on skip counting and multiplication by their selected multiple using Math & Movement activities and the Skip Counting floor mats. Finally, they took their post-tests.
After only four sessions over two days, nearly all of the students made significant gains in their multiplication fluency. This improvement underscores Math & Movement’s transformative impact on learning efficiency.
Results
- After using Math & Movement for only two days, students made significant gains from an average pre-test score of 44% to an average post-test score of 66%. This is an increase of 22% points.
- Students made an impressive 50% improvement in their multiplication skills.
Greene County Schools
Greeneville, TN
Winter 2022
Description
The National Math Foundation provided Math & Movement resources for Greene County educators implementing a math intervention for fourth-grade students. This project sought to determine the effect of kinesthetic activities on multiplication outcomes. Project leads examined a total of 46 fourth-grade students in 4 different classes.
Class #1 participated in active math movements only. Class #3 used Skip Counting floor mats only. Class #2 utilized both active math movements and Skip Counting floor mats. Class #4 did not participate in any kinesthetic activities and acted as a control group. Classes using Math & Movement kinesthetic activities only did so for 30 minutes per week for 8 weeks.
The students completed a pre-test before the start of the intervention and a post-test at the end. All three classes that utilized parts of the Math & Movement program saw higher average test score increases than the control group, demonstrating the effectiveness of kinesthetic activities on multiplication fluency.
Results
- The control group, Class #4, only saw an average increase of 8% from pre-test to post-test.
- The students in Class #2 who utilized both Math & Movement mats and physical movements saw an average score increase of 22% from their pre-tests to their post-tests.
- The three classes that participated in kinesthetic activities all saw higher average test score increases (27%, 22%, and 15%) than the control class (8%).
Washington Yu Ying Charter School
Washington, D.C.
October 2022
Description
Math & Movement Founder and CEO Suzy Koontz led a 40-minute math intervention for 10 fourth grade students in an after-school program. The students completed a pre-test before the intervention and a post-test after the intervention, each with 30 multiplication by 6s problems.
During the intervention, the students practiced verbally skip counting by 6 and participated in active math movements led by Suzy. Students also each got a turn jumping on the Skip Counting by 6s floor mat for more practice. Finally, Suzy demonstrated how to solve multiplication by 6s problems by using the mat and counting their jumps.
At the end of the intervention, all of the students had increased their post-test scores from their pre-test scores. Suzy shared that the students were highly engaged and excited to hop on the mat, but remained cooperative. They were able to work independently to solve problems. One student remarked that he knew “how to do times” after the program – indicating an increase in confidence!
Results
- After only 40 minutes of participating in Math & Movement, students increased by an average of 28% from their pre-test scores to their post-test scores.
- Nine out of the ten students improved their post-test score by at least 20 points from their pre-test score.
- On average, student’s post-test scores were over two times higher than their pre-test scores.
- Students made an impressive 97% improvement in a very short amount of time.
Auburn Enlarged City School District
Auburn, NY
November 2022
Description
Thirteen fourth graders in upstate New York participated in this short one-hour Math & Movement program. These students were struggling to understand multiplication, as shown by their pre-test scores.
The pre- and post-tests for this study were identical and contained 25 multiplication by 6s problems. For both tests, students had one minute to solve as many problems as possible.
First, students took the pre-test. Then, they worked for 55 minutes on skip counting and multiplication by 6s with Math & Movement activities and the Skip Counting by 6s Mat. Finally, they took the post-test.
On average, students’ post-test scores were twice as much as their pre-test scores. This vast improvement in just one hour underscores Math & Movement’s transformative impact on learning efficiency.
Results
- After using Math & Movement strategies for only one hour, students made significant gains from an average pre-test score of 21% to an average post-test score of 44%. This is a 23% point increase and an overall 110% improvement.
- The students were highly engaged in the kinesthetic activities.
The Mighty Multiplication Project
19 Schools Across 8 States
Winter 2023
Description
The Mighty Multiplication Project sought to study the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies on students’ multiplication fluency and attitudes toward math. In partnership with the National Math Foundation, Math & Movement provided kinesthetic learning materials and resources to 19 schools in 8 states.
For 8 weeks, teachers used Math & Movement floor mats and activities to supplement their existing curriculum’s multiplication lessons. Students became familiar with the Skip Counting Mats, the Multiplication Hop Mat, and numerous active math movements.
Students completed a pre and post-test at the beginning and the end of the program to assess their multiplication fluency and changes in math attitudes. Teachers completed a survey before and after the program to assess their own attitudes toward teaching multiplication. They also used a log to track time spent on various activities and observed student engagement levels.
In the end, students who participated in these kinesthetic activities demonstrated statistically significant improvement in multiplication outcomes compared to students participating in traditional activities.
Results
- Project leads found a correlation between kinesthetic activities and the extent of learning improvement. The more time spent on kinesthetic activities, the more multiplication fluency increased.
- There was a considerable shift in student self-efficacy scores from their pre-test to their post-test.
- Kinesthetic activities saw greater levels of student engagement compared to traditional activities. A highly significant relationship exists between the types of math activities and the level of student engagement.
- There was a positive correlation between the average weekly time spent on kinesthetic activities and teacher self-efficacy scores. The more time that teachers spent doing kinesthetic activities, the higher they scored themselves on their ability to help students with multiplication and their own multiplication ability.
Peer-Reviewed Nationwide Study
Winter 2022
Description
The National Math Foundation (a non-profit partner organization of Math & Movement) worked with Bridgewater College to conduct a study on the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies on fourth-grade students’ self-efficacy and self-confidence toward multiplication. Six teachers from six schools across the Mid-Atlantic region of the US used Math & Movement with their 111 students.
During the project, teachers used Math & Movement floor mats and activities as supplemental materials to their multiplication curriculum. Students completed a pre-assessment questionnaire about their feelings toward school, math, and multiplication before the start of the project. They completed the same questionnaire after the project.
This study has been peer-reviewed, and the results show a statistically significant increase in students’ self-efficacy and self-confidence toward multiplication after participating in kinesthetic learning activities.
Results
- Students’ self-efficacy toward multiplication improved by 15%
- Students’ self-confidence in their multiplication abilities increased by 13%
One Hour with Fourth and Fifth Grade Group
July 7, 2021
Description
First, students took a pre-test to assess their existing knowledge. Then, students spent one hour participating in Math & Movement activities and using the Skip Counting by 3s floor mat. Finally, students completed a post-test. The pre- and post-tests included 32 multiplication by 3s problems.
Results
- Almost all of the students improved on their post-test compared to their pre-test scores!
- The class increased their average score from 7 correct answers on the pre-test to 19 correct answers on the post-test. This is an impressive 171% improvement after only one hour of Math & Movement!
- Four students earned a perfect score (32/32) on the post-test.
- Eight students increased their post-test score by 3x or more from their pre-test score.
McConnell Elementary School
Hamilton County School District, Chattanooga, TN
November 21, 2011
Description
Before the start of this intervention, educators received a 6-hour professional development workshop on kinesthetic strategies and using Math & Movement materials. Students took a pre-test assessing their knowledge of multiplication by 8s.
Then, students participated in Math & Movement activities and used the Skip Counting by 8s floor mat for 10 minutes a day for three weeks (15 days). Finally, students completed a post-test. The pre- and post-tests included 36 multiplication by 8s problems.
Results
- Almost all of the students improved on their post-test compared to their pre-test scores!
- Fourteen students earned a perfect score (32/32) on the post-test.
The Mighty Multiplication Project
19 Schools Across 8 States
Winter 2023
Description
The Mighty Multiplication Project sought to study the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies on students’ multiplication fluency and attitudes toward math. In partnership with the National Math Foundation, Math & Movement provided kinesthetic learning materials and resources to 19 schools in 8 states.
For 8 weeks, teachers used Math & Movement floor mats and activities to supplement their existing curriculum’s multiplication lessons. Students became familiar with the Skip Counting Mats, the Multiplication Hop Mat, and numerous active math movements.
Students completed a pre and post-test at the beginning and the end of the program to assess their multiplication fluency and changes in math attitudes. Teachers completed a survey before and after the program to assess their own attitudes toward teaching multiplication. They also used a log to track time spent on various activities and observed student engagement levels.
In the end, students who participated in these kinesthetic activities demonstrated statistically significant improvement in multiplication outcomes compared to students participating in traditional activities.
Results
- Project leads found a correlation between kinesthetic activities and the extent of learning improvement. The more time spent on kinesthetic activities, the more multiplication fluency increased.
- There was a considerable shift in student self-efficacy scores from their pre-test to their post-test.
- Kinesthetic activities saw greater levels of student engagement compared to traditional activities. A highly significant relationship exists between the types of math activities and the level of student engagement.
- There was a positive correlation between the average weekly time spent on kinesthetic activities and teacher self-efficacy scores. The more time that teachers spent doing kinesthetic activities, the higher they scored themselves on their ability to help students with multiplication and their own multiplication ability.
One Hour with Fourth and Fifth Grade Group
July 7, 2021
Description
First, students took a pre-test to assess their existing knowledge. Then, students spent one hour participating in Math & Movement activities and using the Skip Counting by 3s floor mat. Finally, students completed a post-test. The pre- and post-tests included 32 multiplication by 3s problems.
Results
- Almost all of the students improved on their post-test compared to their pre-test scores!
- The class increased their average score from 7 correct answers on the pre-test to 19 correct answers on the post-test. This is an impressive 171% improvement after only one hour of Math & Movement!
- Four students earned a perfect score (32/32) on the post-test.
- Eight students increased their post-test score by 3x or more from their pre-test score.
School Districts We Have Worked With
Our program is trusted and loved by a network of over 15,000 educators. We are active in 47 different states across the country. Is your school next?
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