​Many homeschool families are using Brick Math: Teaching Math Using LEGO® Bricks for the math curriculum for their children ages 5 – 12, or in grades K – 6.  We recently gave a short virtual presentation about Brick Math to interested parents associated with the Heartwood Charter School, a public charter school for independent study in California. 

In the Brick Math program, students use LEGO bricks to learn elementary and middle school math. The bricks are also known as manipulatives—items that the students actually touch and move to model the math.
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How do manipulatives work in teaching math? There are three major ways that manipulatives help students learn:

​1. Manipulatives make math concrete.
When you read math problems in a textbook, you are asked to envision abstract concepts—subtracting 5 from 7, or multiplying 10 by 3, for example. But using manipulatives to model a concept makes the math concrete and real. In our examples, use 7 bricks to model the number 7, then remove 5 of those bricks to see clearly that 2 are left. Or make 3 groups of 10 bricks each to model multiplication, to clearly show the solution as 30. Students “get” the math when they can see it!

​2. Manipulatives are tools to solve math problems.
Engineers and scientists approach new problems by building models and testing their solutions. Manipulatives work the same way for math problems. When given a math problem, students use bricks to work through the problem. Different solutions can be tested and compared.

​3. Manipulatives make math fun.
Doesn’t the idea of doing math with LEGO bricks seem like a lot more fun than memorizing multiplication facts or doing long division with pencil and paper? Students and teachers across the globe agree! Teacher Sally Gray told us: "Instead of indoor recess with puzzles and games, my class begged to continue working on multiplication with Brick Math!"
 
Using the beloved LEGO bricks as math manipulatives in a complete curriculum of K-6th grade math helps students build deep and lasting math ability.

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​

​Studies show that up to 30 percent of people report moderate to high levels of math anxiety, according to author Malia Wollan in an article that appeared on March 27, 2022 in the New York Times.
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Children as young as 6 can show signs of anxiety about math. Many adults (parent and teachers) make the mistake of telling children they are bad (or good) at math, which can increase the child’s apprehension about math.

​One of the reasons students become anxious about math is that math is taught in a high-pressure situation, often by teachers who are uneasy about their own math skills.
           
​The Brick Math program can help reduce students’ math anxiety. Students “see” the math by building models with LEGO® or LEGO-compatible bricks. They engage with the math by drawing solutions to math problems and by explaining the process they used in writing or orally. In this program, students use a wide variety of sensory skills that reinforce how to solve math problems.

​Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions come alive to students when they learn with LEGO® bricks.
           
​The New York Times article recommends, “When you work on calculations with children, try to do so with curiosity, playfulness and a sense of adventure.” When math becomes fun, the student’s anxiety level decreases. That’s the power of Brick Math.

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​

Brick Math is used by schools around the country to help students improve their math skills. Students learn math through a three-part process: creating models of the math with LEGO®-compatible bricks, then drawing those models, and finally, writing and verbalizing how the models work. This process helps students really understand math and quickly build confidence in their math abilities.

Teachers and parents are curious about how Brick Math works. Here are the answers to seven of the most frequently asked questions about Brick Math:

1. What grade levels work for Brick Math?
Counting and Cardinality, Addition, and Subtraction are geared for students in kindergarten to 2nd grade. Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions, and Basic Measurement are generally taught in grades 3 – 5. Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Decimals, and Advanced Measurement and Geometry are most often part of the curriculum in grades 4 - 6.  We are in the process of extending Brick Math through the middle school curriculum with the subjects Data and Statistics, Ratios and Proportions, and Pre-Algebra. These will be available for the 2022-2023 school year. Of course, lessons in all the books can be used in different grade levels, depending on your students.

2. Does Brick Math improve test scores?
There have been several studies of the effectiveness of Brick Math as a teaching tool. For grades K - 2, Brick Math has been shown to improve students' test scores by an average of 4 points. For grades 3 - 5, studies found average test score increases of 7 - 9 points from pre-test to post-test after teaching with Brick Math methods. Further, studies show students’ increase in engagement and excitement about math, as well as increases in conceptual understanding of the content. Click here to learn more about Brick Math studies
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3. Is Brick Math a stand-alone math curriculum or a supplement to curriculum?
​ Both. Some schools have adopted Brick Math as their elementary math curriculum, and others are using Brick Math to supplement their current textbook materials. The program provides differentiation for learners at a variety of levels. Accommodations and modifications for different types of learners are provided with the program. Click here to learn more about the differentiation capabilities of Brick Math

4. Is Brick Math aligned with curriculum standards?
​Yes. Brick Math’s research-based math lessons are designed to help introduce foundational concepts and build mastery through hands-on engagement. The Brick Math curriculum is aligned to the Principles, Standards and Expectations of the National Council of the Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). A vertical K-6 progression highlighting alignment is included with the Teacher Edition. Click here to learn more about Brick Math curriculum alignment
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5. Does Brick Math include lesson plans?
​Yes. The Teacher Edition guides the teacher through the lessons clearly and in sequence. The Student Edition gives each student a workbook for drawing brick models and explaining thinking in writing. In addition, the Student Edition includes extra problems, activities, and an assessment for each chapter. The teaching methods can be used by teachers and parents without any special training. ​ Click here for sample Brick Math lesson plans

​6. Is professional development available for the Brick Math program?
Yes. Although no special training is required, professional development is available for schools that would like it when implementing the program. Schools can order Brick Math materials and professional development as a package or separately. Contact us if you are interested in arranging for a custom package with professional development.
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7. How do I order Brick Math?
​Books and brick sets can be purchased online direct from the publisher, Brigantine Media. The paperback books are also available on Amazon, and Kindle versions of each book are available on Amazon Kindle. PDF versions are also available on the website Teachers Pay Teachers.
For schools ordering the Brick Math program in quantity, with or without professional development, discounts and free shipping are available by ordering online.

 ​Update on learning deficits in the past year: student math achievement has declined 9 to 11 percentile points because of the COVID pandemic. According to a recently published study from the Center for School and Student Progress, student achievement in math was far lower than a typical year, as measured at the start of the current school year (2021-22).

Brick Math is the solution to the problem of declining math achievement. The program is the perfect way to jump-start math education.
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Brick Math teaches K – 8th grade math using LEGO® bricks. Students model the math with bricks and develop deep understanding, not simply rote memorization.

​The Brick Math method has been shown to increase students’ math scores significantly.
Here’s how it works:
First, the student models a math problem with bricks. Next, the student draws the model to begin transferring the knowledge from concrete to abstract. Finally, the student explains their solution in words. This three-step process is what makes Brick Math so powerful and builds students’ true understanding of the underlying math.

​…Plus, it’s fun to learn with LEGO® bricks!

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works well for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​

Brick Math is the leading math manipulative program for K-8 students, no matter the students’ experience or previous understanding of math. Brick Math is so successful because it incorporates several key teaching strategies proven by research to help students achieve success.

Today we’ll explain the first teaching strategy: Transferring knowledge learned from concrete to abstract.

​Math is abstract. A number is actually a concept – not really a thing in the physical world. Students need to learn what the idea of “1” means before they can begin to do anything with numbers like count, add, or subtract. A concrete tool like a LEGO® brick is a physical representation of the concept of the number. One stud on a brick represents the number 1, for example.​

​The Brick Math methodology starts with students using LEGO® bricks to make models of the numbers and the math problems. Students say they can “see” the math when they model with the bricks. Here’s an example of modeling the sum 4 + 3 with bricks:

​The final step that cements the learning is using words and numbers to explain the model they have just built and drawn. Students write or tell why the model describes the math problem, and they write the math sentence that the model is showing. In our example, they would write “4 + 3 = 7” and explain in words that the model shows four studs on one brick and three studs on another brick, and when they are brought together, seven studs in all. This last step of explaining the problem in words reinforces the concept.
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​This three-step teaching method is very effective in building deep, true understanding of the math. The physical representation with bricks helps students learn what the math means, and the steps that transfer the learning from concrete to abstract ensure that students really comprehend the math.

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works well for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​

We're going back to basics for this month's FREE Brick Math Lesson of the Month -- way back! Taken from Counting and Cardinality Using LEGO Bricks, this month's lesson is titled "What Is a Number?" To get the December 2021 Lesson of the Month on numbers, plus a new lesson each month, click here.  You'll also find a quick video of the lesson that demonstrates building the math models with bricks.

The lesson uses 1x1 bricks to show what numbers really mean. Counting each brick gives students the opportunity to use an important learning skill: one-to-one correspondence. This lesson also serves to introduce some of the Brick Math methods that are used throughout all the Brick Math subjects. It's a great one to try with your youngest learners!
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Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works well for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
​
If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. 

​It’s not too early to begin thinking about summer school.
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As parents and educators are painfully aware, math comprehension has suffered during the pandemic. Schools are planning summer school programs to help students catch up on math skills. At Brick Math, we're hearing from lots of schools who want to use Brick Math in their upcoming summer school programs.

​Brick Math, the program that teaches math using LEGO bricks, is a great supplemental curriculum that allows educators to laser-focus on specific student needs. Because it is subject-based, Brick Math can be used in small groups or even individually to create a custom curriculum. And because the same Brick Math brick set is used for all the subject areas of the Brick Math curriculum, students can make progress in several math subjects during the summer.

​Brick Math is also expanding its offerings for the upcoming summer session:
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• All the Teacher and Student Editions will be available in Spanish by summer 2022
• The Brick Math curriculum will be extended through K – 8th grade with three new books: Data and Statistics, Ratio and Proportions, and Pre-Algebra

​Please contact us at www.BrickMath.com for more information about how Brick Math can help your students this summer.

The FREE Brick Math Lesson of the Month for November 2021 is on adding fractions with like denominators, using LEGO bricks to model the fractions.  To get the November 2021 Lesson of the Month, plus a new lesson each month, click here.  It's accompanied by a quick video of this same lesson, to help you understand how to teach with the Brick Math method. You'll find it is easy to teach and fun to learn!

This lesson perfectly illustrates the idea of adding two fractions that have the SAME denominator. The simple trick of using bricks of the same color to show the like denominators of the fractions really helps students grasp the concept. Students will quickly understand the idea when you teach it this way. 

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works well for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning K - 6th grade math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves students' math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​

Wow -- it's fall already! For October 2021, the Brick Math Lesson of the Month is a treat for learning basic subtraction concepts. To get the October 2021 Lesson of the Month, plus a new lesson each month, click here.  

Subtraction can be tricky for a young student to learn. Addition makes sense -- adding to or joining -- but subtraction is taking away, or the inverse of addition, and students need to understand the concept clearly. That's where Brick Math comes in. The lesson shows how to model the action of subtraction in a  hands-on way that makes subtraction concrete and real.

The lesson includes both the Teacher's Lesson Guide and the corresponding Student Workbook pages. And the lesson also includes a link to a video of Brick Math author Dr. Shirley Disseler demonstrating first addition, and then subtraction lessons using this technique. Read the lesson, watch the video, and then try it with your own student(s)!

Brick Math is a K-6 math curriculum that uses LEGO® bricks to model  11 different math subjects: Counting, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Basic Fractions,   Basic Measurement, Fraction Multiplication, Fraction Division, Advanced Measurement and Geometry, and Decimals. It works well for homeschooling, math intervention, enrichment, and as a whole-school program. Materials are simple and affordable.
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If you teach math or have a student at home who is learning math, check brickmath.com. The website includes videos for both teacher training and direct instruction of students. You can learn more about how Brick Math improves student math test scores and hear what people who are using Brick Math have to say about the program. ​