"This doesn't look like how I learned math!"
If you've found yourself thinking this while looking at your child's math work, you're not alone. And you're right—it doesn't look the same. That's actually a good thing.
Mathematics Is More Than Just Getting the Right Answer
When we think back to our own math education, many of us remember rows of multiplication problems, timed tests, and memorizing procedures. We learned to compute quickly, often without understanding why the math worked. But here's what we've discovered: just as language arts is more than spelling tests, mathematics is far more than computation.
True mathematical thinking involves problem-solving, reasoning, seeing patterns, and making connections. When children develop these abilities alongside computational skills, they become flexible thinkers who can tackle new challenges—not just students who can repeat memorized procedures.
Why We Start with Understanding, Not Memorizing
As adults, we see mathematical connections that seem obvious. We understand that 7 × 8 is the same as 8 × 7, that fractions and division are related, that shapes can be decomposed and recomposed, that 9 has a "threeness" to it (3 × 3, or three groups of three). But we often forget that we didn't always see these connections.
An experienced elementary art teacher once shared something profound with me: when young children were asked to draw people, they had wonderfully creative and diverse ways of representing them. But once an adult showed them how to draw a stick figure, that's almost all they ever drew after that. Being shown what some consider the "right way" had a lasting impact on their creativity.
The same thing happens in mathematics. When we push children to memorize algorithms and procedures before they understand what those processes mean, we actually limit their mathematical thinking. Just like those children who stopped exploring creative ways to draw people, students who learn the "right way" too early often stop exploring different ways to solve problems. They become dependent on memorized steps rather than developing true number sense.
InsightMath takes a different approach. By starting with interactive visual puzzles that children can manipulate in space and time, we preserve their natural problem-solving creativity while building deep understanding. This foundation allows them to develop both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency naturally over time—without sacrificing their ability to think flexibly and creatively about mathematics.
How InsightMath's Spatial-Temporal Approach Works
InsightMath uses what neuroscientists call "spatial-temporal reasoning"—our brain's natural ability to transform, relate, and compare mental and physical images in both space and time. This isn't just about looking at pictures; it's about experiencing math dynamically.
Here's what makes it powerful: When your child works on an InsightMath puzzle, they're engaged in a learning cycle that mirrors how our brains naturally learn:
- They make a prediction based on what they currently understand
- They take action by trying their solution
- They see immediate, informative feedback—not just "right" or "wrong," but visual feedback that shows WHY something works or doesn't
- They adjust their thinking and try again
For example, if your child is learning about addition, they might move blocks on screen to combine groups. If they predict that 5 blocks plus 3 blocks will fit into a space for 7, the puzzle shows them trying it—the blocks either fit perfectly or they don't. This immediate visual feedback helps them understand not just that 5 + 3 = 8, but WHY it equals 8.
The "temporal" part is crucial too—math concepts unfold through animation and movement, showing relationships dynamically. Division isn't just a static picture of groups; it's the active process of sharing items equally and seeing what happens.
What Makes This Different from Traditional Math
In traditional math instruction, students often:
- Memorize facts without understanding relationships
- Learn one "right way" to solve problems
- Get feedback only on whether their answer is correct
- Work with static numbers and symbols
With InsightMath's approach, students:
- Build understanding through interactive experiences
- Discover multiple solution strategies
- Receive feedback that shows how and why things work
- See math concepts come alive through movement and animation
This approach is based on decades of neuroscience research showing that when children learn through spatial-temporal experiences first, they develop stronger mathematical understanding that transfers to symbolic math.
Your Child's Mathematical Thinking Matters
Here's something important to understand: when your child is working on a math problem, what matters most isn't just whether they get the right answer. What we're really interested in—what we don't already know—is HOW they're thinking about the problem.
When children explain their reasoning, draw pictures to show their thinking, or demonstrate multiple ways to solve a problem, they're doing real mathematics. They're showing us that they understand not just what to do, but why it works.
Supporting Your Child at Home
You don't need to be a math expert to support your child's learning. Here's how you can help:
- Ask "What did you notice when that happened?" when they're working through InsightMath puzzles
- Celebrate productive struggle—when they try something that doesn't work, that's learning in action
- Focus on the thinking process: "How did you figure that out?" or "What made you try that approach?"
- Trust the process—understanding comes before speed, and fluency develops naturally
- Avoid showing "the right way" too quickly—let them explore and discover
Remember, your child is building a mathematical foundation through experiences, not just memorization. It may look different from how you learned, but that's because we now know so much more about how children's mathematical minds develop. By starting with spatial-temporal understanding and building toward symbolic fluency, we're preparing them to be confident problem-solvers who truly understand the math they're doing.
The goal isn't just to produce students who can compute—it's to nurture mathematical thinkers who can reason, explain, and apply their understanding to new situations. That's the power of the InsightMath approach.