100% FREE TO USE

Usable Math

(Formerly 4mality)


Math Learning through Problem Solving and Design

Usable Math provides interactive problem solving practice for 3rd through 6th grade students learning mathematical reasoning and computation through creative writing, NoCode slideshow design, and human-AI collaboration.

a young child practicing number operations

Math Friends

Featuring four coaches Estella Explainer, Chef Math Bear, How-to Hound, and Visual Vicuna who offer reading, computation, strategy, and visual strategies for solving math problems.

picture showing Estella Explainer, a math coach

Estella Explainer

"I help children understand the language and meaning of questions using kid-friendly vocabulary."

picture showing Chef Math Bear, the second math coach

Chef Math Bear

"I provide computational strategies (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) for solving problems."

picture showing How-to-Hound, the third math coach

How-to-Hound

"I present strategic thinking clues (rounding, estimation, elimination of wrong answers)."

picture showing Visual Vicuna, the fourth math coach

Visual Vicuna

"I offer ways to see problems and their solutions using animations, pictures, charts and graphs."

The coaches annotate hints and provide feedback to help students with various levels of knowledge solve mathematical word problems using a wide range of strategies.

Math and ISTE Standards Based

Usable Math aims to teach mathematics concepts and problem solving skills based on the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Usable Math supports ISTE Standards for Students: Empowered Learner (1.1), Knowledge Constructor (1.3), and Computational Thinker (1.5).

elementary school children in classroom with teacher

Open Education Resource

Usable Math is an open education resource project developed in the College of Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Usable Math received a 2023 classroom grant from MassCUE (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators). An initial version called 4mality was developed with funding support from the Verizon Foundation and a grant from the US Department of Education, Institute of Education (IES).