If your students are not proficient, ready to reach 94%?
Stop Buying New Curriculum —> Start Training Teachers
Simply Powerful Math is not curriculum training. It is transferrable knowledge that works with any curriculum.
Tricks v. Schema
Teachers teach tricks because this may be the way they learned. Tricks may help some students pass unit tests but, not every student learns math the same way. In our students who struggle, tricks are isolated, unconnected learning—like items in a junk drawer—the place we keep things we will need later. When we access the drawer, what we find is a bunch of tools tossed together, buried on top of each other with none of the original instructions clipped to them. We are not sure when to use what tool; things like keep-change-flip, PEMDA, etc.
Schema is how the brain connects ideas—schema is a powerful framework, or a plan, built on relational thinking. Students who think relationally recognize patterns, and organize information so they transfer this knowledge.
I’ve watched every level of student build new connections on their own once the foundation is in place. Multiplication is a simple example; the same strategy can carry from 2nd grade to college. With consistency, teachers are building a foundation instead of a pile or isolated rules—“when we have a fraction, do it this way” or “when we have a decimal, do it this way.” That’s memorization, not understanding.
With schema, students retain the material, develop deep understanding of the concepts and mathematical proficiency around application. Students can now decide how best to build their tower of knowledge and how tall this tower will grow. This is Simply Powerful Math.
And that’s where your school starts to see the 94%.
Hands-on Math
Manipulatives aren't cute classroom extras. They're not optional. They're not only for struggling learners during a reteach. And, they are not only for learning the concept the first time.
Manipulatives help build schema. They create the mental picture the brain needs before it can organize, connect, and transfer knowledge. Students begin by interacting with concrete tools before they move to standard algorithms or abstract symbols on a page. Manipulatives are the bridge.
Skip the concrete? Jump right to abstract procedures? Students may memorize rules but rarely transfer knowledge or apply the math concepts to future lessons. They may get answers, but the answers may lack meaning.
No manipulatives → no mental picture → no schema → no transfer → every year feels new.
Consistent use of tools and strategies reduces confusion for students. When math language is consistent in K-8, students’ discourse deepens and understanding grows. Consistency means students stop solving “new problems” every year and they are given a choice to apply what they know when they need.
Remember, every students learns math differently. That’s why we differentiate—and that is not just for struggling learners. Even your top math students benefit from consistency and tools to transfer knowledge. That's coherence. That's how math should feel. This is Simply Powerful Math.
And that’s where your school starts to see the 94%
Teachers Are Doing Their Best
This is NOT a teacher problem. College never taught our amazing and dedicated, hard-working elementary teachers the concepts behind the math they are expected to teach, the power behind schema, or why consistency matters. This creates frustration in your staff, and confusion in your students. The struggle is real and can result in burnout.
Rarely do teachers see their role as being part of a 9-year math team. Rarely do they know that the concept for Distributive Property begins in kindergarten, one of the CCSS that is taught in 2nd grade is stagnant in our students again until 6th grade or that, together, K-8 teachers are building a whole Algebra student. Once they see it, that’s where your school starts to see the 94%. This is Simply Powerful Math.
Our Success is Transferrable
Wisconsin: 94.4% 8th grade on-track to graduation vs. 66% state average
Wisconsin: 95% of trained teachers’ students tested at Advanced and/or Meeting during the first year in a new curriculum compared to 42.4% of non-trained teachers’ at the same school
Wisconsin: middle school achievement scores were 23% above state average and growth scores were 11% above state average (students tested below state average in previous years)
Texas: 91-94% of intervention students passed the standardized test, three consecutive years; goal was 50%
15+ years teaching math K-16; M.Ed. Elementary Education with Math Endorsement, DePaul University
5 years coaching/mentoring hundreds of in-service and pre-service teachers; trained in Cognitive Coaching, Crucial Conversations & Essential Facilitation
17 year project manager (AVP at major bank in Chicago)
Creation of Simply Powerful Math and its Power Paths
Benefits to Your School
Teachers who understand the math are more confident and less stressed. This knowledge is transferable to any curriculum which helps them to implement your next curriculum adoption with fidelity. Or, your school can stop buying a new program to fix an old problems that wasn't about the program in the first place.
Students who understand the math begin to transfer this knowledge to future concepts, directly reducing your teachers’ workload. Our at-risk students start to understand the concepts, become more confident and their test scores show it.
Increased test scores means more celebration with the teachers and students and also less punitive conversations at board meetings. An average school will see an ROI of 8.7% after the first year.
With Simply Powerful Math, these benefits are both possible and practical.
“Ms. Bell has a contagious enthusiasm for Mathematics. - Karen B., School Principal
“Ms. Bell really understands how to teach Math!” - Chris S., School Principal
“We are so lucky to have Ms. Bell working with our teachers.” - Michael R., Superintendent
“I can’t wait to see my students scores at the end of this year!” - Kelly K., - 5th grade teacher
“If all my teachers taught Math the way you do, I would love it like you do.” - Brian L., 8th grade math student
“You make it seem so easy.” (that’s because it is) - Billy S., 8th grade math student
Let us make a different with Simply Powerful Math
Let us make a different with Simply Powerful Math
All packages are customizable to the needs of the client
$1,200/day + expenses
In-person grade band training and recommended hours of training
K–2, 9 hours
3–5, 18 hours
6–8, 12 hours
Interventionist and special education, 12 hours (can vary widely)
Follow-up coaching
Recommended within the first year (can vary widely)
Individual coaching
Tailored across multiple grade bands at the in-person rate.
Virtual coaching available at $150/hour (4-hour minimum); small group or individual teachers
Whole school workshop
The progression of math instruction and the Power Paths
$2,100 + expenses for 2 days
Two days recommended. A 1\-day option is available but not recommended in a K–8 setting.
Additional services
Curriculum mapping, vertical alignment leadership, vocabulary implementation, and intervention program design available upon request. Pricing varies.