Walton County schools add Magma Math program to customize learning in real-time

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The Walton County School District added a new tool to their belt to help students succeed in mathematics.

It’s called Magma Math and it lets the teacher see students solve a problem in real time.

“Magma Math is a program that allows students to practice the math skill that they have been assigned,” said fifth-grade teacher Olivia Garrett. “I can actually view from my screen their work and where they’re making their mistakes.”

The program allows teachers to watch students solve a problem in real-time.

At West DeFuniak Elementary School, teachers say it allows them to slow down a lesson or increase the challenge for students in the same room.

“You can meet the students where they are, so you can change problems as they are working, and then you can make problems more challenging or less difficult,” Garrett said.

This is the first year that Magma has been used in Walton County schools, and while teachers are still getting the hang of it, they say students love it and are very engaged.

“It is very interactive. They drag, they draw and everything is done with their finger or the click of a mouse, but it shows me step by step everything. So it’s like literally I’m in their brain,” said fourth-grade teacher Ashley Smith.

The tool can be used from Kindergarten through 12 ^th grade.

Both Garrett and Smith said they are excited that Magma Math will set students up for success in the future.

“We can do mild, we can do medium or we can do spicy,” Smith said. “So if I see, man, you’re rocking those fourth-grade standards, let’s push a little bit, let’s get you more ready for fifth grade.”

Created in Sweden ten years ago, Magma Math just made its way to the United States in 2022.

Walton County teachers said they hope the program will expand in the future for reading and other subjects.

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