(Source: BlackNews.com)
NATIONWIDE — In a classroom where students of all ages are singing instead of memorizing, math is starting to make sense. Niah Spriggs, an African American educator in Oklahoma City, is using music to transform how her students learn math with the release of a new album, “Multiply the Beats: Math That Moves,” on all platforms, including YouTube, Apple, and Amazon Music, to name a few. (Visit the YouTube page to see a sample.)
Support for the project was provided in part through an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the Oklahoma County Commissioners, reflecting a community investment in improving student learning and supporting innovative educational approaches.
The project focuses on helping children build numeracy and the ability to understand how numbers work by teaching multiplication and number patterns through rhythm and repetition. Instead of relying on memorization alone, students learn to recognize patterns like multiples and skip counting by hearing and repeating them through music.
Research supports the importance of this approach. Studies from the Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis have found that early math skills are one of the strongest predictors of later academic success, even more than early reading.
“Students don’t struggle because they can’t learn math; they struggle because they don’t always see how numbers connect,” said IBLA Founder, creator of the program. “When students hear the patterns in music, they begin to understand the patterns in numbers.”
In classrooms using this approach, students actively engage with math by singing, counting, and identifying number patterns. As they repeat the songs, they begin to internalize key concepts, allowing them to solve problems with greater confidence and accuracy.
The songs guide students through foundational skills such as:
- recognizing multiples and skip counting
- understanding number patterns
- building fluency in multiplication
- developing a foundation for division, factors, and fractions
By strengthening these early skills, students are better prepared for more advanced math concepts and are less likely to struggle as math becomes more complex. The album is part of a broader teaching approach that emphasizes understanding before memorization, helping students move from recognizing patterns to achieving true math fluency.
Parents and teachers can also access instructional videos on YouTube that demonstrate how the method is used in real classroom settings. A community celebration event for students and families will be held on June 6, highlighting how music can make learning math both engaging and effective.
With growing concern around student performance in math, this approach offers a practical and engaging tool for helping children build confidence, develop strong foundational skills, and succeed in future math learning.
Follow their music on YouTube
About
Niah Spriggs is an Oklahoma City educator focused on helping students develop strong numeracy skills through pattern-based learning and music. She currently runs I Believe Learners Academy and Scholars Circle Community Tutoring Program. The “Multiply the Beats” project is part of a broader effort to improve math understanding by helping students recognize how numbers relate, grow, and connect throughout Oklahoma City.
