What do students actually need to become strong in math?
A new article from The 74 spotlights PowerMyLearning’s Foundations of Numeracy, a research-informed framework bringing clarity to this question in PK–5.
👉 Read the full article in The 74.
A Clearer Picture of What Students Need in Math
As highlighted in the article, the Foundations of Numeracy framework brings clarity to a long-standing challenge in math education: while debates about how to teach math continue, there is far more agreement about what students need to learn.
The framework identifies four essential and interconnected areas of numeracy development:
- Content: the core mathematical ideas that underpin future learning
- Competencies: the skills students use to make sense of and apply math
- Ways of Thinking: the reasoning and problem-solving processes that support understanding
- Motivators: the beliefs and mindsets that shape engagement and persistence
Together, these elements provide a more complete and aligned view of how students develop mathematical understanding over time.
Moving Beyond the “Math Wars”
The article underscores a key insight: many of the long-standing debates in math education—often framed as competing priorities—are not actually in conflict.
As noted in the coverage, areas like conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application are best understood as complementary, not competing. Strong numeracy development requires all of these elements working together.
By bringing these components into a single, cohesive framework, the Foundations of Numeracy helps shift the conversation from either/or debates to a more integrated understanding of math learning.
Grounded in Research, Designed for Practice
The Foundations of Numeracy synthesizes insights from more than 200 studies across mathematics education, cognitive science, and developmental psychology. It is designed to serve as a shared reference point for educators, school and district leaders, and policymakers working to strengthen math outcomes.
As PowerMyLearning CEO Arun Ramanathan shared in the article, the goal is not to prescribe how math should be taught, but to clarify what must be developed—and how those elements fit together.
Explore the Foundations of Numeracy
The national conversation around math education is evolving. A shared understanding of numeracy is a critical step toward improving outcomes for all students.
Download the Foundations of Numeracy framework.
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If this framework resonates with your work, we encourage you to share it with colleagues and partners.
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Together, we can build a clearer, more aligned vision for math learning in PK–5 classrooms.
Additional Resources
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Discover the essential skills students need to build strong numeracy before middle school.
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Recent News Coverage
National education publication The 74 highlights the framework and its four cornerstones.
