Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 21:16     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260638069_A_Randomized_Trial_of_an_Elementary_School_Mathematics_Software_Intervention_Spatial-Temporal_ST_Math

Fifty-two low performing schools were randomly assigned to receive Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math, a supplemental mathematics software and instructional program, in second/third or fourth/fifth grades or to a business-as-usual control. Analyses reveal a negligible effect of ST Math on mathematics scores, which did not differ significantly across subgroups defined by prior math proficiency and English Language Learner status. Two years of program treatment produced a nonsignificant effect. Publication of evaluation results from large-scale real-world supplemental mathematics instructional implementations such as this one can provide a realistic view of the possibilities, costs, and limitations of this and other computer aided instruction supplemental interventions.


Well, well. Thank you for providing this. Too bad FCPS won't just take the L and admit it's a terrible program. Bring back textbooks and workbooks.
DP
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 21:14     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.


My kid is in 8th grade now so he doesn’t have to use it any more but he hated it. I don’t know any of his friends who liked it.

I think it works for kids who are struggling and need an alternative way to learn. For kids who understand the concepts and are comfortable with the math, it is boring and repetitive. The program moves slowly, the animations take forever, and it is not paced for kids who understand the math.

It can be a tool that is given to kids who are struggling with math to help them understand and learned. But it is forced on kids who already understand the math or who are ahead in math.

It is part of FCPSs larger problem, they refuse to group kids by ability and teach to those levels. If you have 4 classes, you can put kids into 4 groups and teach to the needs of those groups. ST Math is probably helpful for the kids who are struggling and behind. It might be useful for kids on grade level but it is useless for kids who are comfortable with grade level math or ahead.


DP. I have to disagree about your premise - my DC always struggled in math and ST Math made it so, so much worse. I would help her at home using a traditional textbook (that the teacher reluctantly gave us ) and had her do problems with pencil and paper. She started understanding the concepts much faster and more completely.

Giving kids a stupid cartoon-based program is the height of laziness. FCPS should allow teachers to TEACH again, using paper, textbooks, etc. and not just plopping kids in front of the computer and expecting them to catch on.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 21:09     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.


So, because *your* kid loves it, that somehow negates all of the MANY complaints about it? It's a horrible program for most kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 21:13     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
There will be something else.

The Carnegie program that some schools are piloting has a huge online platform that goes with the curriculum.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 12:56     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260638069_A_Randomized_Trial_of_an_Elementary_School_Mathematics_Software_Intervention_Spatial-Temporal_ST_Math

Fifty-two low performing schools were randomly assigned to receive Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math, a supplemental mathematics software and instructional program, in second/third or fourth/fifth grades or to a business-as-usual control. Analyses reveal a negligible effect of ST Math on mathematics scores, which did not differ significantly across subgroups defined by prior math proficiency and English Language Learner status. Two years of program treatment produced a nonsignificant effect. Publication of evaluation results from large-scale real-world supplemental mathematics instructional implementations such as this one can provide a realistic view of the possibilities, costs, and limitations of this and other computer aided instruction supplemental interventions.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 09:18     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ST math is a piece of trash.
So ridiculous! I wonder whether any FCPS corruption is involved in buying ST math.


Only the laziest teachers use it. It’s not useful to children just a waste of time.

ST math is required by FCPS. From DD's teacher


Just chiming in to say that the earlier comment isn’t from this parent of a DD. Lots of parents have mixed feelings about ST Math, but I’m not the one who wrote the “lazy teachers” post. We adore our teacher and would never post such a thing! DCUM coincidences!


PP here adding that none of these posts are from this DD’s parent. While we don’t love ST Math, we respect our teacher. If FCPS requires it and teacher wants ST Math done, we’ll do our best to do just that.

These are my only contributions to this thread from 2013, but it’s been an interesting read!


*2021
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 09:15     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ST math is a piece of trash.
So ridiculous! I wonder whether any FCPS corruption is involved in buying ST math.


Only the laziest teachers use it. It’s not useful to children just a waste of time.

ST math is required by FCPS. From DD's teacher


Just chiming in to say that the earlier comment isn’t from this parent of a DD. Lots of parents have mixed feelings about ST Math, but I’m not the one who wrote the “lazy teachers” post. We adore our teacher and would never post such a thing! DCUM coincidences!


PP here adding that none of these posts are from this DD’s parent. While we don’t love ST Math, we respect our teacher. If FCPS requires it and teacher wants ST Math done, we’ll do our best to do just that.

These are my only contributions to this thread from 2013, but it’s been an interesting read!
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 07:09     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.


My kid is in 8th grade now so he doesn’t have to use it any more but he hated it. I don’t know any of his friends who liked it.

I think it works for kids who are struggling and need an alternative way to learn. For kids who understand the concepts and are comfortable with the math, it is boring and repetitive. The program moves slowly, the animations take forever, and it is not paced for kids who understand the math.

It can be a tool that is given to kids who are struggling with math to help them understand and learned. But it is forced on kids who already understand the math or who are ahead in math.

It is part of FCPSs larger problem, they refuse to group kids by ability and teach to those levels. If you have 4 classes, you can put kids into 4 groups and teach to the needs of those groups. ST Math is probably helpful for the kids who are struggling and behind. It might be useful for kids on grade level but it is useless for kids who are comfortable with grade level math or ahead.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 07:02     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the complaints. There is an evidence base for it being effective, including positive randomized control trial results. My kid happens to love it.

Can you provide a peer reviewed article published on an reliable academic journal as a proof?
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 06:47     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ST math is a piece of trash.
So ridiculous! I wonder whether any FCPS corruption is involved in buying ST math.


Only the laziest teachers use it. It’s not useful to children just a waste of time.

ST math is required by FCPS. From DD's teacher


Teacher here. This is the first year I am using it since 2020. It is being forced and monitored.



Why is it being forced and monitored?



I guess higher ups want to make sure it is being used since it costs a lot. It is a terrible math program. Not sure about younger grades but for Upper ES, Khan Academy is way better and free.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 01:49     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ST math is a piece of trash.
So ridiculous! I wonder whether any FCPS corruption is involved in buying ST math.


Only the laziest teachers use it. It’s not useful to children just a waste of time.

ST math is required by FCPS. From DD's teacher


Teacher here. This is the first year I am using it since 2020. It is being forced and monitored.



Why is it being forced and monitored?
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 01:30     Subject: please stop using ST Math in FCPS.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:ST math is a piece of trash.
So ridiculous! I wonder whether any FCPS corruption is involved in buying ST math.


Only the laziest teachers use it. It’s not useful to children just a waste of time.

ST math is required by FCPS. From DD's teacher


Just chiming in to say that the earlier comment isn’t from this parent of a DD. Lots of parents have mixed feelings about ST Math, but I’m not the one who wrote the “lazy teachers” post. We adore our teacher and would never post such a thing! DCUM coincidences!