In classrooms where students read at different levels, teaching math becomes a double challenge: helping students understand both the mathematics and the questions themselves.
Teaching a split class in rural Alberta, Canada, Jennifer Doherty at Alder Flats Elementary School needed a program flexible enough to support all her students.
She found that solution in Mathletics, our online math program for schools, which has become an essential tool for building numeracy skills and confidence.
Audio: the feature that changes everything
What drew Jennifer to Mathletics initially was a feature that directly solved one of her biggest classroom challenges: students who knew how to solve math problems but couldn’t read the questions independently.
“We needed a program that talked to the students,” Jennifer explains.
When students struggle with reading math questions, it creates a dual challenge. Teachers find themselves providing reading support when students already understand the mathematical concepts, which takes time away from actual math instruction.
Jennifer describes the impact:
“A lot of students get stumped with the reading, and that can cause stress for teachers who think, ‘Now I have to help them read the question, but they know how to do the question.'”
The audio feature solves this elegantly. Students can navigate independently through problems, allowing Jennifer to focus her time on mathematical thinking rather than reading assistance while students build confidence in their abilities.
Building confidence through familiar language
In addition to accessibility, Mathletics has helped reduce math anxiety in Jennifer’s classroom through repeated exposure to mathematical terminology. This becomes particularly valuable when students face provincial assessments.
“The big thing I appreciate with Mathletics is that the wording is very similar to the numeracy testing that Alberta Learning has put out,” Jennifer shares. “They’ve seen these words before. They’ve heard the sound of those math words together and what they mean.”
The program helps students become familiar with mathematical language in a low-pressure environment. Computer-based practice feels less intimidating than performing in front of the class, giving students the confidence to tackle problems independently.
Jennifer explains how this supports both reading comprehension and math understanding:
“It’s difficult to understand mathematical terminology when you can’t read it. The audio option helps so much… the more we hear it, the more we understand, especially if it gives the definition.”
True flexibility for mixed-ability classrooms
Teaching a split-grade classroom with students at vastly different ability levels requires exceptional flexibility. Mathletics delivers exactly that. Jennifer teaches Grades 1 through 4 math and integrates Mathletics into her daily routine.
While she works directly with one grade level, the other completes Mathletics assignments that align with their current learning objectives.
“I integrate Mathletics almost daily with each class,” Jennifer explains. “I’ll teach one class while the other gets a Mathletics assignment that correlates directly with what we’re learning.”
The program’s ability to discreetly adjust difficulty levels has been particularly valuable. Jennifer can easily assign students to work at whatever level matches their actual mathematical understanding, regardless of their grade.
“I can select what level my students are at,” she notes. “I often have students in Grade 4 working at a modified Grade 3 level. If that’s too hard, we can toggle the box again and go back down to Grade 2.”
This quiet individualization means students get the support they need without feeling singled out, while Jennifer maintains high expectations appropriate to each learner’s current abilities.
Data that drives better instruction
The reporting features in Mathletics provide Jennifer with actionable insights that directly inform her teaching decisions. The colour-coded system allows her to quickly identify who needs additional support and why.
“I appreciate that there’s a lot of information from just one assignment – how many times they attempted it, what they got, and if they finished it that day,” Jennifer explains.
The pre- and post-test features also help her measure growth and determine next steps for each student.
“The pre-test and post-test show me if they’ve really understood it and whether I can push them further,” she shares. “If they’re struggling with the majority of an assignment, it tells me we need more intervention.”
This real-time visibility into student progress allows Jennifer to provide timely support and adjust her instruction based on actual student needs.
Engagement through competition and variety
Students at Alder Flats have embraced Mathletics enthusiastically, particularly the Live Mathletics feature that allows them to compete with students around the world.
“Live Mathletics is very much a favourite for students,” Jennifer notes.
Students enjoy finding out where in the world their competitors are located, and there’s also friendly competition within the classroom itself.
The program offers multiple ways for students to test their skills, keeping them engaged while building genuine mathematical proficiency:
- Live Mathletics – real-time competition with students near and far.
- Basic fact practice – targeted skill reinforcement at their own pace.
- Instructional videos – learning through music and visual instruction.
- Problem-solving quests – engaging challenges that build critical thinking.
- Gamified activities like Multiverse – interactive tools that reinforce concepts.
“Students appreciate that they can practice those skills and not just do drills,” Jennifer explains.
Practical integration for busy teachers
For educators considering Mathletics, Jennifer emphasizes both its user-friendliness and its strong curriculum alignment.
“It’s definitely user-friendly for both teachers and students, and it has very good correlation to the program of studies we’re all following,” she shares. “There are a lot of options and the ability to keep them on task is really good.”
The program has also influenced Jennifer’s teaching practice in meaningful ways.
The data helps her reflect on pacing, identify where students struggle, and consider whether to introduce terminology earlier or adjust her instructional sequence.
Math success for every learner
As Jennifer continues using Mathletics at Alder Flats Elementary, the program’s impact extends across multiple dimensions of math learning.
It removes barriers for struggling readers, builds confidence through repeated exposure, adapts seamlessly to mixed-ability classrooms, and allows teachers to make informed instructional decisions.
With audio support, flexible leveling and engaging practice, Mathletics gives students what they need to become capable mathematicians.
