Morse Elementary
Troy, Michigan
The educators at Morse Elementary in Troy School District, Michigan, are well-acquainted with snow. They know that each flake is unique because no two experience the same journey through the atmosphere, encountering changing conditions as they fall.
The dedicated faculty and staff at Morse could easily apply this metaphor to their students’ learning journeys, since they work diligently to tailor instruction to different needs. And by thoughtfully utilizing DreamBox Math, they not only save time, but also have a tool that responds to every subtle change in a student’s thinking, mirroring the way a snowflake takes shape in shifting winter air, and creating a learning path as unique as each child.
Educators: The Heart of Morse
At Morse, students flourish because of the thoughtful, steady guidance provided by exceptional educators. “The teachers at Morse are deeply committed to our students’ success, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Principal Scott Keen.
Targeted Learning, Saving Teachers Time
Like teachers across the country, those at Morse face a familiar challenge: there’s simply not enough time. Without the right support, that problem can quickly lead to frustration, burnout, and unmet student needs.
“Teachers never have enough preparation and planning time to fully address the unique needs of every learner. This is why so many teachers are working at home and after hours all across our nation,” said Keen.
“As the case with all educators, we were struggling to find the time and resources to meet the targeted needs of each individual student. Not only for students who needed targeted intervention to address knowledge gaps but for enrichment and challenge for our students who were ready to be pushed further in their learning,” said Keen.
Because of the way Morse implements DreamBox Math, which fully aligns with Michigan math standards, teachers can use a “set it and forget it” approach, allowing students to work independently. The priority is ensuring students complete five lessons a week, which is made easy with data reporting. DreamBox Math generates real‑time, auto‑updated reports that give educators actionable insight into student learning, progress, and usage. These reports show where students are, how they’re growing, what standards they’ve met, and what support they need next, without teachers having to analyze data manually.
Designed for Differentiation
Keen believes that students can only meet rigorous academic expectations when they are anchored in a supportive and structured environment. For those at Morse, that means that they work on DreamBox Math in lieu of morning and afternoon bell work, if they finish other work early, for at-home enrichment, and sometimes as a workshop rotation during math block.
“Our staff consistently uses DreamBox Math instead of morning and afternoon work packets that can often become busy work and are not targeted to the individual student’s needs. These are often above or below a level of what students need in their learning,” said Keen.
DreamBox Math is a good fit because of its unique adaptive technology that meets students where they are and provides an individualized experience, allowing students to fully engage with the work in a meaningful way. “With DreamBox Math, students are ensured to be working at a level differentiated just for them,” said Keen.
Dedicated faculty coupled with thoughtful implementation is at the core of Morse Elementary’s success with DreamBox Math. “DreamBox Math is a light lift for teachers and targets each individual student’s current math learning needs,” concluded Scott Keen. And that’s “snow” lie!
