No More Left Behind: Rethinking the Modern Math Curriculum

Math is a cornerstone of education, essential for various fields and everyday problem-solving. However, for students who fall behind, catching up in math can feel like an uphill battle more difficult than any other subject. This struggle is reflected in students’ perceptions: according to a 2018 Pew Research survey, over 40% of students in the United States reported having a negative attitude toward their K-12 math experience—far more than for any other subject.

But why is this the case? And more importantly, can it be fixed? In this article, I’ll explore these questions and share some ideas for addressing the issue.

Why Is It So Hard for Students Who Fall Behind in Math to Improve?

1) Math Builds on Itself

Math is unique in its fundamentally cumulative nature, with each topic relying on a solid understanding of the last. For instance, mastering basic algebra is essential before tackling more advanced subjects like calculus or statistics. When students miss key foundational concepts, it becomes much harder for them to grasp more complex ideas later on.

Despite this cumulative nature, the mechanisms we have to ensure proficiency are often ineffective. According to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) report, approximately 31% of OECD students fall below the "basic mathematics proficiency" level required for advanced learning and application. Yet, a much smaller proportion of these students are actually held back from advancing to the next grade.

This is not to say that students should necessarily repeat a grade, but it does point to a clear problem: many students move forward without having the basic skills they need for future success. This issue shows the need for better support to make sure students are truly ready for the challenges of more advanced learning.

2) The "I'm Not a Math Person" Mindset

Society often promotes the idea that being good at math is something you're either born with or not, which discourages students from trying to improve. Phrases like "I'm just not a math person" reflect this belief, making it seem like math skills are fixed and unchangeable. This view is very different from how we see other subjects, like reading or writing, where we understand that practice and effort lead to improvement.

Believing that math ability is fixed can have a big impact on how students learn. When students think their success in math is determined by talent, they’re less likely to put in effort, ask for help, or stick with challenges. This belief often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: the less effort they put in, the less progress they make, which reinforces the idea that they’re just "not good at math."

3) Lack of Practice and Reinforcement

In recent years, there has been an understandable push to reduce homework in various curriculums across the world to address concerns about stress, mental health, and overwork. This approach has merits, helping students avoid burnout, spend more time with family, and pursue non-academic interests. However, it also has some unintended consequences with regards to practice.

For most students, especially those struggling with new ideas, regular practice is key to building skills and confidence. Without enough practice, their understanding stays shallow, and they quickly forget important concepts. For example, a student who doesn’t fully understand fractions may find it harder to move on to topics like percentages or ratios.

As such, without additional practice only the highest achievers or those more fortunate to access resources like private tutors will thrive. However, for slower learners or those with knowledge gaps, regular practice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Thus, reducing or eliminating homework and independent study widens the achievement gap, leaving struggling students further behind.

How Can We Improve Math Education?

Improving math education worldwide is a considerably complex issue, and will require many years at best. However, tackling the specific challenges outlined above are a good starting point that can lead us to meaningful change.

1) Focus on Strong Foundations

The first challenge in the current education system is the lack of emphasis on building strong fundamentals. Addressing this requires a shift in how we approach practice and progression, which can be achieved with the following changes:

Consistent, Short Practice Sessions

Instead of overwhelming students with long assignments, schools can encourage short, regular practice sessions. For instance, dedicating even just 10 minutes a day to focused math exercises can add up to 60 hours of practice annually. This consistent reinforcement not only builds proficiency, but also boosts confidence as students see steady improvement over time.

Raise Competency Standards and Offer Support Early

Allowing students to progress through grades, without ensuring they’ve mastered foundational concepts sets them up for future struggles and may provide more harm than good. At the same time however, holding students back can have significant effects on their social development and confidence. To address this, early targeted interventions - such as extra help sessions or tutoring - should be strongly encouraged by schools between certain grade ranges (for instance, under 70%). This can help solidify their skills and prevent small gaps from snowballing into larger issues.

2) Encourage a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset toward math is critical and should be emphasised at an early age to correct the pervasive fixed mindset that discourages so many students today. Here are some strategies we can use to foster this mindset:

Make Learning Engaging and Supportive

For many students, negative experiences with math—whether from confusing lessons or harsh feedback—can lead to lasting aversions. To counter this, teachers can incorporate interactive activities, games, and real-world applications to make math more approachable and enjoyable. Just as important, teachers need to emphasize that failure and struggles are a natural and valuable part of the learning process.

This shift begins with deliberate phrasing. For instance, instead of saying, "You got that wrong," a teacher might say, "This is a great opportunity to learn something new." This sort of language helps reframe mistakes as stepping stones rather than setbacks.

Low-stakes assessments, like quizzes, regular worksheets, and group activities, are also excellent tools for normalizing mistakes. These allow students to explore, make errors, and receive feedback in a supportive environment without the fear of high-pressure consequences.

Celebrate Effort and Progress

Rather than praising students purely on the basis of their test performance, it is far more helpful to celebrate growth and consistent effort. Recognizing the hard work that leads to improvement fosters a growth mindset, encouraging students to value persistence and learning over perfection. For example, instead of saying, "Great job, you got an A," try, "I'm impressed with how much effort you put into mastering this topic—it really paid off!" This approach helps students see progress as a result of their dedication, motivating them to keep pushing through challenges.

3) Leverage Modern Resources to Supplement the Classroom

Technology and modern resources offer powerful tools to make math more accessible, engaging, and effective. Our hope with numbric is that it A) redirects the time teachers need to spend on finding resources to helping students and B) provides all individuals with a source of additional practice, regardless of how their class curriculum is structured. However, there are many other resources that can help both inside and outside the classroom!

Khan Academy

This free platform provides comprehensive video lessons and practice exercises tailored to individual needs. Students can revisit lessons as often as needed and learn at their own pace, making it an invaluable resource for both struggling learners and advanced students looking to deepen their knowledge.

ChatGPT and other AI tools

As large language models continue to improve, they are becoming much better at explaining complex topics in an interactive way. This makes them especially helpful for students who might hesitate to ask questions in class because they worry their questions seem “basic” or “stupid.” In a classroom, fear of judgment can hold students back, but chatbots provide a safe and judgment-free environment for learning.

While these tools cannot replace real teachers or tutors, their benefits are clear. They offer on-demand help, personalized feedback, and a supportive space for students to explore and learn. As these models advance, their ability to support both students and educators will only increase, making them an even more powerful resource in education.

Conclusion

The modern math system can be tough for students who fall behind, but these challenges aren’t impossible to overcome. By focusing on strong foundations, encouraging a positive mindset, and using modern tools and personalized teaching methods, we can make math education more effective and accessible for everyone.