Frequently Asked Questions
Is MathBait a full curriculum?
Yes!
Currently, our program covers a full year of PreAlgebra. Our second year program will debut in 2024 covering Algebra. Our final program will tackle Geometry through the high school level.
Can MathBait be used independently?
Yes! We encourage students to independently explore to build their ability to become self-directed learners and take ownership of their learning.
Each mission contains detailed Mission Information documents. Students may skim through these and return only if they have difficulty beating a game or completing a debrief allowing for just-in-time learning. Others may be entranced with the storylines and enjoy picking up on every clue.
Our program includes tons of resources for students to pick up on ideas using their intuition and real-world understandings rather than memorizing formulas or procedures. We are currently developing videos, live tournaments, as well as group classes to provide even more ways for students to engage with the material.
Can parents track student progress?
Yes! With our in-depth parent accounts, each parent has one easy-to-use portal for all their children. This gives parents access to our Information Hub which includes pacing and progression guides, standard alignment, additional resources, and teacher guides on each mission.
Parents also have access to detailed reports on student progress, scores, questions answered, and more!
How is MathBait paced?
Once you have a parent or teacher account you will have access to our detailed pacing documentation which includes,
A flexible guide that incorporates both the book (reading) and the online portion
Activities and projects to extend learning or make cross-curricular connections
Discussion questions
Optional investigations
Assessments
Some students may move quickly through some sections and need more time on others. Our program is self-paced allowing the perfect fit for your student or classroom.
Can MathBait be used as a supplement?
Certainly!
Our first year program covers the key topics covered in PreAlgebra. If your students are bored, confused, or in need of additional material, MathBait is an excellent choice.
Rather than complete endless practice problems, we offer a fun and engaging environment full of missions and games. This can be perfect for students who need additional practice as they are more willing to engage.
What do I do if my student is confused?
Our program offers a segmented approach to concepts. This is different than traditional school. For instance, in learning prime numbers students first play a game where they are in charge of building walls. They learn that it doesn't make sense (monetarily) to stock every size, so only the sizes that cannot be made with existing bricks are available. If a student needs to build a 4 foot wall, they see there are no 4 foot bricks, but they can accomplish this with 2 foot bricks. They then extend this knowledge piece by piece and by the end of the mission(s) they are pros with primes.
Because of this, students do not generally get stuck often! But many factors can impact how a student views the content and the material. When students are confused, we recommend revisiting the Mission Information. If they have completed a debrief, students should read through the detailed and personalized feedback on each question. We offer many challenging questions to help students grow. If a question is challenging, we encourage students to consider any assumptions they made as most often an incorrect assumption is the culprit.
If you find your student needs additional support than the material provides, please contact us at help@kryptografima.com as we can provide additional information to help your student succeed.
Is there a feature that reads the text for students?
We are currently working on adding a read-aloud feature to all missions. In addition, we are producing instructional videos on each major topic to provide students with various ways to engage with the material.
What type of games are on MathBait?
We offer a variety of games based on the storyline and concepts covered. Some games are multi-player and can be played with friends and family or against a computer-player. Others are arcade style like our Pac-Man game "Eat It!" in which students must navigate to capture the larger value. We offer many problem-solving and detective mystery games such as Order Up and Super Sleuth. In addition, games offer real-world connections. Many include completing order forms, budgeting, and other real-world skills. The Woods offers an intricate Escape Room scenario and in the Behaviorism Plaza students attend a carnival and win prizes!
Overall, there is a lot to play and explore within The Kryptografima. Each game was created to be something we'd want to do and many times, even after our classes have ended we witness students still logged on trying to beat the game!
Is MathBait for advanced (gifted) learners?
Absolutely.
In fact, research shows that advanced learners do much better in novel programs (like this one!). We have many young students (7-9) who love Marco the Great and The Kryptografima.
However, our content is written at a middle school level. Younger students may require more support in reading or navigation of the online platform. That being said, one of our top scorers on the leaderboard is under 10!
Is MathBait good for homeschooling?
MathBait is an excellent choice for homeschooling. In fact, some of our designers are homeschool parents themselves.
We offer in-depth reporting allowing parents to focus on all the great moments instead of keeping track of each hour spent. Our homeschool experts are also available to help any family with their specific transcript or reporting needs based on their state requirements.
How much does MathBait cost?
MathBait was created to provide all students with high-quality, fun, and engaging mathematical material.
To align with our mission, our prices are always as low as possible in order to ensure every family can participate.
Currently, a paperback copy of Marco the Great is retailed at $17.99 and a 6-month (26 week) subscription is only $8. That's right! Your child can have a full year of math, created by the same educators who designed the programs at top institutions costing over $1000 per student for less than $40 a year.
Does MathBait accept purchase orders?
Yes!
You may email a purchase order to partner@mathbait.com. We will reply with an invoice and the information needed to set up your account.
Checks should be made payable to MathBait.
Can MathBait be used for students who struggle with math?
Yes, yes, and yes!
One of the biggest problems with students who struggle in math is that schools take the approach of "doing the same thing and expecting different results". Simply having a student repeat a grade or go over the material again is unlikely to help them deeply understand it and certainly won't help them enjoy or appreciate the content.
This is a huge benefit of MathBait. We provide a new and different perspective that many students and parents have commented "helps to understand the tricky concepts". Through storytelling and analogies students are given a fresh take on math and numbers that makes sense with the world around them and things they already understand outside of math.
Does MathBait follow Common Core?
Common Core is a controversial topic for some. The Common Core Standards are simply a list of topics students are expected to know at each grade or level.
MathBait follows a more holistic approach. Many of the middle school standards are disjointed. For example, imagine if your student was assigned to learn the first third of the alphabet in grade 6, the next third in grade 7, and the final third in grade 8. At MathBait, we group topics that logically make sense. Although the standards may call for a letter to be introduced in a later grade (or sometimes not at all!), if we are learning about vowels we don't neglect "o" and "u" just because the standards say to save those for a later grade. Your student will learn all the key concepts and many above-grade-level concepts in a coherent and rigorous way that makes sense with how humans learn and not what the standards say.
However, to help our parents and teachers, we provide detailed alignment documents. This helps parents and teachers connect each activity and game to the key ideas and learning objectives as well as to the topics their students may be required to know for state or other testing.
Are more books/levels on the way?
They are! The second book in the series, Marco the Great and the Mystery of Phaseville is set to release in 2024 and shortly after we will unveil new levels, games, and missions to go with it.
Our second book is a full mystery-adventure that will take students through the Cartesian Plane, graphing, relations, and functions. We can't wait to share it with the world!
The final planned book in the trilogy is expected to release in 2025. It will cover Geometry concepts up to the high school level.
What else does MathBait offer?
We love math! Aside from our fun to read adventure novels and our amazing online platform, we also offer fun math-themed gear perfect for anyone in your life.
You can browse our witty and resourcesful t-shirts, sweat-shirts, stickers, and notebooks. Our items are high-quality (our team wears them all the time!), mathematically accurate, and support a good cause. Purchasing an item from our store helps us to keep our prices low advancing equity and accessibility for all students.
