John Mighton

I was honoured to be featured by my alma mater, Victoria University at UofT, in its most recent issue of the Vic Report. Thanks for the opportunity to share my story with fellow alumni and students.
You can read it here: https://ow.ly/kN6J50Xou1Q

I'm proud to announce the launch of JUMP Math Prima—an evidence-based preschool supplement developed with Dr. Tracy Solomon to support early math learning through purposeful play and guided exploration.

To learn more, please contact my team at [jumpmath.org].

Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task This study explores the neural and behavioral consequences of LLM-assisted essay writing. Participants were divided into three groups: LLM, Search Engine, and Brain-only (no tools). Each completed thr...

That’s how your brain creates strong mental “maps” that make it easier to spot patterns, catch errors, and solve new problems.

AI can be a great tool for learning, but only after you’ve done that thinking on your own.

Read more: arxiv.org/abs/2506.08872

A new MIT study shows that if students turn to AI like ChatGPT too early, it can quiet the parts of the brain that build memory and problem-solving skills. Learning, especially in math, works best when you struggle with problems, make a few mistakes, and figure things out yourself.

Math Education in the U.S. Gallup studies perspectives on K-12 math education to understand barriers, perceptions and the role of math at school and beyond.

If we want to prepare students for life, we need to teach math that feels relevant, builds confidence, and speaks to real-world needs. But even more important, we need to follow the science of learning in teaching math so everyone can realize their true potential in math.

ow.ly/58FZ50WXEu8

A recent Gallup study shows a deep contradiction. Most Americans say math matters—at work, in daily life, and in raising children—but many feel left behind by how they learned it.

5th Annual Rocky Mountain Mind, Brain & Education Conference September 13, 2025 - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Looking forward to speaking at ResearchEd Denver on Sept. 13 at 2:10 pm. My session, “The Decline in Student Math Engagement: What’s Really Going On?”, will look at why student motivation in math declines even as schools adopt popular strategies meant to make math “fun”.

ow.ly/bV7B50WT8KO

I am pleased to share that I’ll be speaking at the Canadian Early Mathematics Education (CEME) Conference in Kingston on Aug. 21. In my talk, I’ll share how research on early learning shaped the development of a new preschool math supplement I co-developed with Dr. Tracy Solomon.

Grounded in cognitive science, this course helps learners overcome math anxiety & develop true math understanding. It offers research-based tools to make learning math more accessible & enjoyable for everyone. The course launches on July 31. Pre-enrollments are now open. jumpmath.org/ca/coursera/

I’m proud to announce that I’ve partnered with renowned educator &researcher Dr. Barbara Oakley to launch a new Coursera course: Making Math Click: Understand Math Without Fear.

Thank you to the Alumni of Victoria College for this truly meaningful recognition.

I’m deeply honoured to receive the 2024 Victoria College Distinguished Alumni Award. Victoria College was where I first discovered the joy of connecting math, philosophy, and community – and I’m so very grateful to be recognized by a place that was so instrumental in shaping my career and life path.

This challenge is similar in many education systems, comprehensive, ongoing professional learning programs that equip teachers with evidence-based professional learning and teaching strategies are needed to ensure that every child gets the education they need to thrive.

The article points out, many educators lack access to ongoing professional development. According to the ASER report, 25% of teachers have not attended any PD workshops since their initial training. This gap limits the adoption of effective teaching practices and directly impacts student outcomes.

The Role of Teacher Training in Strengthening Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Education is the cornerstone of a nation’s progress, with teachers playing a pivotal role in shaping young minds. The National Education…

I came across an article by Devyani Kapoor titled, “The Role of Teacher Training in Strengthening Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).” Kapoor emphasizes that teachers are more than just knowledge providers, they are mentors guiding students toward lifelong learning. medium.com/@edudevstech...

🍁🎊🙌ResearchED Toronto 2025🇨🇦🥳🪅
Full Speaker List - now available
@bg987.bsky.social @rastokke.bsky.social @johnmighton.bsky.social @numcog.bsky.social @jim-hewitt.bsky.social
@educhatter.bsky.social
@steplab.bsky.social
@mrzachg.bsky.social
@dylanwiliam.bsky.social

app.7taps.com/e0jePfnaeET0

In pilots conducted last year with several @tdsb.on.ca schools, @jumpmath.bsky.social supported nearly 3K students & 297 teachers with PD, resources, and tutoring. The results: participating schools saw an average 7-point increase in EQAO scores, while scores across Ontario remained flat.

This is a call to action for educators across Canada to act now to ensure students can recover missed learning. Rapid improvements are possible. It starts with access to affordable tutoring and in-class support with trained educators using science of learning-backed methodologies

Richards says, "A 20-point drop in PISA scores is equivalent to losing a year of schooling, meaning students in our smaller provinces have effectively lost 2.5 years of math education since 2003 — nearly a full year more than students in large provinces."

Opinion: For the sake of their futures, Canadian kids need to be better at math Opinion: With scores on international tests falling, without better teaching, students will be ill-prepared for a data-driven world. Read on

This article by John Richards & Tingting Zhang highlights the crisis occurring in math education across Canada. Examining PISA scores from 2022, it shows a dramatic drop in student math achievement, especially in smaller provinces. financialpost.com/opinion/opin...

Schools, policymakers, and communities must remain committed to long-term recovery efforts. The effects of the pandemic won’t disappear on their own, but with sustained investment and focus, we can bridge these gaps.

Learning recovery isn’t just about making up for lost time; it’s about rethinking education to ensure that every child has access to the support they need—whether through effective strategies that follow the science of learning, tutoring, or evidence-based resources.

5 years on, students are still struggling with learning loss, further widening achievement gaps that existed long before the pandemic. Lack of access to educational resources & supports to bridge learning gaps continues to affect millions of students and teachers.

Schools closed and went remote to fight COVID-19. The impacts linger 5 years later. Educators said their students returned with lower academic skills after the COVID-19 pandemic and academic setbacks are proving difficult to reverse.

This article reminded me that it has been 5 years since schools shut down their doors due to the pandemic. Since returning to in-person learning, we've seen unprecedented academic & social-emotional gaps in learning among students that persist in classrooms. www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...

I'm pleased to share that I'll be attending ResearchEd NYC on March 29. Looking forward to connecting with fellow advocates and practitioners of the science of learning and sharing @jumpmath.bsky.social’s evidence-based approach to math education with our US colleagues.

Math is for everyone, everywhere.

This month, we’re celebrating Pi Day by raising awareness of the importance of math education in creating a more equitable world. Stay tuned as we share fun challenges and interesting facts about math. #PIforAll