Reston, VA-The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and KenKen® have formed a new educational partnership designed to help teachers engage students in mathematical thinking through the power of puzzles and play. Through the partnership, teachers can access daily KenKen puzzles and educational resources , giving them a classroom activity that makes math feel like a challenge, not a chore.
The collaboration brings together the nation's leading K-12 mathematics education organization and a puzzle that was, quite literally, born in a Japanese math classroom more than two decades ago to help children discover the joy of thinking mathematically.
KenKen began with one teacher looking for a better way to get his students to think for themselves. More than 20 years later, partnering with NCTM is enormously meaningful. We share a belief that mathematics should be something students engage with, explore and enjoy. KenKen may look like a game or puzzle, but it develops math understanding and fluency-and along the way, children become stronger, more confident mathematical thinkers. - Robert Fuhrer, Founder and President of KenKen Puzzle Co.
KenKen combines number sense and fluency with logic and deductive reasoning. Players use properties of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to work through a grid with one unique solution. The rules can be learned in minutes, with puzzles ranging from simple grids for young students to sophisticated problems for accomplished adult solvers.
That flexibility has made KenKen a popular classroom resource for students across a wide range of ages and ability levels.
Every teacher knows the difficulty of keeping students engaged and thinking when the answer isn't immediately obvious. What makes KenKen powerful is that students want to solve it. In doing so, they are thinking deeply, analyzing, testing their understanding, and sticking with a problem. Students experience it as something they want to figure out, rather than simply another assignment or exercise. We're excited to provide daily resources for teachers that can bring more mathematical thinking into their classrooms. - Latrenda Knighten, NCTM President
At nctm.org/KenKen , teachers will also find videos, lessons and other classroom resources. Student puzzle pages are designed to minimize distractions, while a consistent web address makes it easy for teachers and students to find each day's puzzle.
About KenKen
KenKen was created in 2004 by renowned Japanese mathematics educator Tetsuya Miyamoto to help his students develop mathematical reasoning, concentration, perseverance and independent problem-solving skills. His philosophy was simple but unconventional: rather than simply teaching children how to arrive at an answer, give them compelling problems and allow them to discover solutions for themselves.
Since its creation, KenKen has grown from a Japanese classroom exercise into a puzzle played around the world. It has been published by The New York Times and incorporated into educational programs and publications for students of varying ages and ability levels. Today, more than 35,000 educators participate in the free KenKen Classroom program, using KenKen puzzles and educational resources to help students build mathematical fluency, logic and problem-solving skills.
About NCTM
Founded in 1920, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is the nation's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education. NCTM sets high professional standards, provides research-informed resources, and advocates for high-quality mathematics teaching and learning for each and every student.
Media Contacts:
NCTM Communications
media@nctm.org
KenKen Puzzle Co.
Robert Fuhrer
