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Want to Prevent the Math Summer Slide? NWEA Learning Scientists and Math Experts Offer Tips and Activities

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BOSTON, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Summer vacation is here, and while fun is on the agenda, keeping up with academic skills may not be. This means many students return to school in the fall at a slightly lower academic level than they were at the previous spring. It’s a phenomenon known as “summer slide,” and research suggests that math tends to be more impacted than reading.

The good news? Families don’t need worksheets or formal lessons to help children maintain their math skills over the summer. NWEA, a K–12 assessment and research organization, asked its learning scientists and math experts to share some of their favorite ways to make math a natural part of everyday life over the summer.

Find Math in Story Time
Mary Resanovich, former elementary school teacher and current Principal Assessment Connections Content Designer at NWEA
Recommended for Early Learners

People often think of reading and math as completely separate subjects, but story time can be a powerful way to build early math skills. Many children’s books include opportunities to count objects, compare sizes, identify patterns and shapes, solve simple problems, and talk about quantities. Even books that are not specifically about math can spark conversations that help children build mathematical thinking. Reading aloud exposes children to new vocabulary and ideas while creating opportunities to explore math concepts together. The illustrations alone can lead to discussions about counting, comparing, adding, subtracting, and problem-solving.

When reading with your child, try:

Counting objects in illustrationsComparing quantities, sizes, or shapesLooking for patternsAsking children how they would solve a problem in the storyTalking through different ways to arrive at an answer

Math through Rhymes and Music
Colleen Oppenzato, PhD, former elementary and middle school teacher and current Learning Scientist at NWEA
Recommended for Grades preK–1

Music, songs, and nursery rhymes can help young children build important math skills while having fun and spending time together.

Many popular children’s songs naturally reinforce early math concepts. Nursery rhymes such as “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” and “Five Little Monkeys” help children practice counting forward and backward, while songs like “The Wheels on the Bus” introduce concepts such as “up and down” and “round and round,” helping children develop an understanding of spatial relationships.

Families can build math learning into everyday routines by singing favorite songs together in the car, during playtime, or at bedtime. Repetition, rhythm, and movement all help reinforce early mathematical thinking.

Music can also be a fun way to explore cultures and languages while learning math concepts. Songs like Un elefante se balanceaba in Spanish or Un éléphant qui se balançait in French help children practice counting while introducing new languages and cultural traditions. The goal is to make math playful and engaging by connecting it to activities children already know and love.

Put Math Thinking on Paper
Ayesha Hashim, PhD, Lead Research Scientist at NWEA
Recommended for Grades 1–3

Writing matters. As young learners start to engage in more complicated math, it’s important that they don’t try to solve everything in their heads or rely only on counting with their fingers. At our house, I keep a math journal on the breakfast table where my first-grade son can write out his thinking and practice using addition and subtraction strategies that he is learning at school. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s building a routine where, when presented with a math problem, children naturally reach for paper and pencil and begin writing and organizing what they are thinking.

Families can encourage this by:

Keeping a notebook or math journal somewhere visible and accessibleAsking children to draw pictures or models to represent their thinkingAsking children to explain how they arrived at an answerModel your thinking by writing out your own solution as an exampleCelebrating the process, not just the correct answer

Explore Fractions in the Kitchen
Jean Hampel, EdD, Learning Scientist at NWEA
Recommended for Grades 3–5

Fractions are a foundational math skill, and the kitchen is one of the easiest places to practice them. When cooking, I like to challenge children to think about different ways to measure ingredients. If a recipe calls for ¾ cup of flour, what if we only have a ½-cup and a ¼-cup measure? What if we only have a ¼-cup measure? These simple conversations help children explore equivalent fractions and develop a deeper understanding of how numbers relate to one another.

You can also:

Discuss how measurements change when doubling a recipeExplore what happens when cutting a recipe in halfCompare measurements such as ¼ cup and ½ cupAsk sharing questions like, “If we have three granola bars and four people, how much does each person get?”

Math becomes much more meaningful when children see it being used in real-world situations.

Math in Projects Around the House
Aaron Kugler, former elementary and middle school teacher, and current Principal Assessment Connections Content Designer at NWEA
Recommended for Grades 3-12

One of the things that summer provides in much more plentiful supply than the school year is time for hands-on exploration and play. Even high schoolers deserve and need time to explore topics of interest. Families can encourage their students to apply their interests in dedicated projects that no doubt could leverage math. Consider the following ideas for summer projects:

Design and build a board gameOwn and operate a lemonade standLearn to code simple applicationsPlan a road tripPlan a DIY projectDesign a scale model or mural

Each of these project ideas is ripe with mathematical application. Most involve measurement, logical reasoning, financial literacy, or opportunities to practice calculation. A student interested in making money over the summer might be encouraged to calculate their supply cost, income potential, and income-to-cost ratio. A student planning a road trip might be encouraged to use physical maps, calculate the best places to make stops each night, and outline hotel or campsite accommodations and meal budgets.

By taking simple ideas and structuring them as slightly more involved projects that help students escape the “boredom” of the everyday, mathematics learning and application can take a front seat in a lot of summer experiences.

Leverage AI as a Learning Partner
Susan Kowalski, PhD, former high school teacher and current Lead Research Scientist at NWEA
Recommended for Grades 6–12

Summer offers an opportunity for students to revisit math concepts, strengthen skills, and build confidence before returning to school in the fall. But creating personalized practice and support can be time-consuming for families.

AI tools (like math-gpt.org) can help by generating practice problems, reviewing work, and providing detailed written explanations that help students understand why a solution works – not just what the answer is. Rather than replacing teachers or tutors, AI can help families provide targeted support when students need extra practice or a different explanation.

Used thoughtfully and with adult guidance, AI can be a helpful learning partner for keeping math skills sharp over the summer.

Families can use AI to:

Ask for step-by-step explanations of math concepts and proceduresGenerate additional practice problems on a topic that a student is learningExplore multiple ways to solve the same problemReview completed work and identify where mistakes may have occurredHelp parents better understand the math their children are learning

As with any technology, adult guidance is important. AI works best as a tool that supports learning and encourages curiosity rather than one that simply provides answers.

Turn Game Night into Math Night
Natasha Wilson, PhD, former mathematics teacher (K-16) and current Learning Scientist at NWEA
Recommended for All Ages

One of my favorite ways to support math learning over the summer is through games. Games help children develop fact fluency, strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and perseverance without feeling like they are “doing” mathematics. They also create natural opportunities for productive struggle and tenacity, where children learn to keep trying even when something feels challenging.

Some of my family’s favorites include:

Qwixx – develops addition skills, subitization skills, and strategic thinkingBattleship – builds understanding of coordinates and spatial reasoningSet – strengthens pattern recognition and logical reasoningPhase 10 – encourages addition and introduces probability conceptsTiny Polka Dot – helps younger learners develop number sense, subitization, counting, and comparison skills

As you play, ask questions such as:

How did you decide that?Why do you think that strategy worked?Was that move easy or difficult? Why?What might you do differently next time?

These conversations help children think more deeply about the mathematics embedded in the game.

Math is all around us, and summer offers countless opportunities to help children practice it in authentic ways. The goal is not to recreate school at home. Instead, experts encourage families to help children see math as a tool they already have at their disposal for understanding, navigating, and enjoying the world around them.

For more family resources and learning tips, visit https://www.nwea.org/blog/2025/engaging-with-math-at-home-at-all-ages/

About NWEA

NWEA®, a division of HMH, supports educators worldwide by providing responsive, evidence-based assessment solutions that illuminate learning needs and fuel student growth. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K–12 assessments, including its flagship assessment – MAP Growth, and professional learning that helps educators strengthen their practice and improve student outcomes. As part of its commitment to bring valuable insights to the education community, NWEA engages in research that examines issues that shed light on inequities and other barriers to academic opportunities. Visit NWEA.org to find out how NWEA partners to help all kids learn.

Contact: Simona Beattie, Communications Director, simona.beattie@nwea.org or 971.361.9526

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SQAIRZ Launches SQAIRZ Medical

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September 10, 2026

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New Division Introduces the First Integrated Balance & Stability Platform to Help Combat Fall Risk and Support Lifelong Movement, Vitality and Independence

WINDHAM, N.H., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SQAIRZ, the biomechanically driven performance footwear company built on the belief that performance starts where you stand, today announced the launch of SQAIRZ Medical, extending the company’s expertise in stability and human movement into one of the most significant health challenges facing an aging population: fall risk and the loss of mobility, vitality and independence that can follow.

At the center of the new division is SENTRX™ purpose-built Balance & Stability footwear engineered from the ground up by SQAIRZ to help create a more stable foundation for everyday movement. In addition, SQAIRZ Medical has developed a holistic clinical framework designed to provide a critical continuum of support.

That framework integrates a Balance & Stability Protocol that connects objective fall-risk assessment, SQAIRZ’s biomechanically engineered footwear, individualized clinical intervention, and ongoing outcomes tracking into a single approach that optimizes support at every stage of the balance and stability journey.

The need is urgent. One in four U.S. adults over age 65 falls at least once every year. For adults over 80, the risk increases to one in two. Fall-related injuries account for more than $80 billion in annual U.S. healthcare spending, while also diminishing an individual’s ability to fully engage in the relationships and experiences that define quality of life.

“For more than a decade, SQAIRZ has studied the relationship between the ground, the foot, stability and human performance,” said Bob Winskowicz, Founder and CEO of SQAIRZ. “SQAIRZ Medical represents the next evolution of that work. We believe that better stability should not only help an athlete perform better. It can help people continue living better. Our goal is to identify risk earlier, provide meaningful intervention and help people maintain the movement, confidence and independence that make a full life possible.”

Beyond the Shoe: A Complete Solution

The SQAIRZ Medical approach begins with a simple premise: you cannot effectively address a risk you have not first measured.

Through the SQAIRZ Balance & Stability Program, healthcare providers can use Kinetisense® Risk of Fall and Gait Assessment technology to perform a rapid 3D movement assessment that evaluates walking speed, stride pattern, body sway, compensatory movement and an individual’s fall-risk percentage.

Those insights help inform an individualized stability plan. The SQAIRZ clinical pathway is designed around escalating levels of intervention based on identified risk, ranging from neuromuscular education and baseline guidance for lower-risk patients to appropriate orthopedic solutions.

That includes SENTRX, purpose-built balance and stability footwear engineered with a wider natural base of support, a toe box that allows the toes to spread naturally for better balance, and a high-traction outsole that helps maintain connection with the ground; and, where appropriate, Thrive Orthopedics lateral or anterior AFO bracing. Follow-up testing and outcomes tracking allow providers to reassess patients over time.

Integrates into Clinical Care

SQAIRZ Medical is being developed around the realities of clinical adoption, patient access and reimbursement.

For patients whose assessment indicates a greater need for stabilization, the SQAIRZ clinical pathway incorporates Thrive Orthopedics AFO solutions, including pathways identified in SQAIRZ materials under L1952 and L1933. The broader program is supported with provider education, treatment-pathway guidance, documentation tools, chart-note templates and letters of medical necessity.

SQAIRZ patient materials indicate that SENTRX footwear may be covered through Medicare, depending on patient qualification and coverage. Patients may also have HSA/FSA payment options.

The goal is to create a Balance & Stability solution that can live not only in consumer commerce, but inside real patient-provider workflows.

Built with Medical Expertise

The development of SQAIRZ Medical is supported by a multidisciplinary Medical Advisory Board spanning orthopedics, podiatry, physical therapy, biomechanics, sports medicine and movement science.

The advisory group includes physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, physical therapists, researchers and biomechanics experts with experience across leading medical institutions, professional sports and clinical practice. Their role extends beyond product endorsement, helping inform clinical protocols, research priorities, provider education and the continued development of evidence-based approaches to balance and stability.

“In podiatry and sports medicine, we see every day how much the relationship between the foot and the ground influences balance, confidence and movement,” said Dr. Paul Klutts, DPM, Director of Fellowship for Kentucky and Indiana Foot and Ankle. “What is compelling about SQAIRZ Medical is that it approaches stability as a system: measure risk, create a stronger foundation at the foot and connect that intervention to ongoing clinical care. SENTRX is designed to make that foundation part of everyday life.”

“Fall risk is not a single-variable problem, and it should not be addressed with a single-variable solution,” said Dr. Larry Benz, PT, DPT, OCS, MBA, MAPP, FAPTA, Founder and CEO of Confluent Health. “The opportunity with SQAIRZ Medical is to connect objective assessment, footwear, individualized intervention and outcomes tracking in a way that can fit within the continuum of care. That kind of integrated approach can help clinicians move from reacting to falls toward identifying and addressing risk earlier.”

From Performance Footwear to Performance throughout Life

SQAIRZ Medical represents a natural expansion of the company’s original mission.

SQAIRZ was founded on the belief that performance starts where you stand. Across golf, baseball, softball and pickleball, the company has focused on the relationship between the ground, the foot, stability and human movement. SQAIRZ Medical applies that same foundational thinking to a different stage of life.

“People don’t wake up wanting a stability shoe. They want to keep doing the things they love. They want another walk with their spouse, another vacation, another birthday, another afternoon with their grandchildren. They want to remain active, vital and independent for as long as possible,” Winskowicz said. “That is what we mean by SQAIRZ FOR LIFE. From helping an athlete perform to helping someone maintain their movement and independence as they age, we want SQAIRZ to be The Foundation of Human Movement throughout every stage of life.”

About SQAIRZ

SQAIRZ is a biomechanically driven performance footwear company founded on the principle that performance starts where you stand. Through footwear engineered to enhance stability, ground connection and movement, SQAIRZ serves athletes across golf, baseball, softball, pickleball and now consumers through SQAIRZ Medical. For more information, visit SQAIRZ.com or SQAIRZMedical.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sqairz-launches-sqairz-medical-302874411.html

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MHK and MCG Partner to Connect Evidence-Based Clinical Guidance with Standards-Based Prior Authorization

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51 minutes ago

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September 10, 2026

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New integration to help health plans streamline prior authorization and prepare for CMS-0057-F compliance

SEATTLE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network and the industry’s source of truth for trusted clinical guidance, announces a newly certified integration with MHK, a leading healthcare technology provider and a sibling Hearst Health company. The new integration connects the MCG Path interoperability solution directly with the MHK CareProminence prior authorization workflow, helping health plans streamline authorization processes while supporting standards-based interoperability required by the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F).

The prior authorization process has historically required healthcare providers and health plans to navigate separate clinical, documentation, and administrative requirements. When required clinical information is not clearly identified at the point of request, submissions may be incomplete, resulting in requests for additional information, manual follow-up, longer review cycles, and ultimately, delayed care for members. Simultaneously, health plans seek to balance adapting their current utilization management workflows to the evolution of standards-based interoperability.

The new MHK CareProminence and MCG Path integration brings highly trusted clinical guidance and documentation requirements directly into the authorization workflow, connecting capabilities that have traditionally operated as separate steps. Using HL7® Da Vinci Project burden reduction standards – including Coverage Requirements Discovery (CRD), Documentation Templates and Rules (DTR), and Prior Authorization Support (PAS) – the integration surfaces evidence-based MCG clinical indications and structured documentation requirements at the point of a prior authorization request.

The integration is designed to help health plans:

Support evidence-based decision-making by incorporating the nationally recognized MCG care guidelines into the prior authorization workflowReduce administrative burden by helping providers identify and submit required clinical documentation earlier in the processPromote more consistent reviews by making structured clinical requirements available within existing workflowsAdvance interoperability readiness by supporting HL7 Da Vinci standards associated with CMS-0057-F API requirements that are primarily due January 1, 2027

One of the first to utilize the MHK-MCG integration will be Mountain Pacific, a multi-state nonprofit organization with a long history of innovation and healthcare quality improvement.

“We’re excited to integrate MHK CareProminence and MCG into our medical necessity review process for prior authorization as part of our continued commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery,” said Jill Alessi, Chief Executive Officer at Mountain Pacific. “By connecting trusted, nationally recognized, evidence-based clinical guidelines with clearer documentation requirements, this integration has the potential to reduce administrative burden, streamline the review process, facilitate timely care, strengthen collaboration, and support a more efficient experience for providers and their patients.”

“Prior authorization works best when clinical guidance, documentation requirements, and the authorization workflow are connected rather than operating as separate steps,” said Carol Helton, COO of MHK. “Bringing MCG’s trusted clinical guidance directly into CareProminence enables health plans to simplify that process while giving providers clearer information at the point of request. Equally important, this integration gives our customers a practical path toward the standards-based interoperability required under CMS-0057-F.”

“We’re seeing tremendous momentum for MCG Path as health plans across the country prepare for the next era of interoperable prior authorization,” said Jon Shreve, President and CEO of MCG Health. “Our partnership with MHK is a critical part of that progress, bringing the trust of MCG directly into the workflows health plans already use. Together, we’re driving more confident decisions that help patients get the right care.”

The certified MHK-MCG interoperability integration is currently available to health plans, and demonstrations can be requested via the MHK and MCG websites at mhk.com/contact/schedule-a-demo/ or mcg.com/contact-us/schedule-a-demo/.

About MCG Health

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, is the trusted source of truth for clinical guidance in the healthcare industry. MCG combines evidence-based guidelines and analytics with artificial intelligence to guide efficient and accurate clinical decisions. MCG solutions are licensed by a vast majority of health plans, thousands of hospitals, and many state and federal government agencies to drive quality health outcomes while controlling costs. For more information, visit mcg.com.

About MHK

MHK, formerly MedHOK, is a leading provider of healthcare SaaS solutions for health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and provider-sponsored organizations. MHK’s platforms support utilization management, case management, population health, pharmacy management, enrollment, and compliance. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., MHK partners with payers nationwide to optimize operations, improve outcomes, and deliver superior member experiences. For more information, visit mhk.com.

About Mountain Pacific

Established in 1973, Mountain Pacific has decades of experience collaborating with healthcare professionals, consumers and communities across multiple states to deliver innovative solutions. Through federal, state and commercial funding and partnerships, Mountain Pacific brings national public health priorities to the local level to achieve better health outcomes, lower costs, greater access to high-quality care and improved patient experiences. Learn more at mountainpacific.org.

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NuxGame Heads to SBC Summit Lisbon 2026 With Its Full Ecosystem and a Seat on the Compliance Stage

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51 minutes ago

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September 10, 2026

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LIMASSOL, Cyprus, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NuxGame, a B2B iGaming software provider, will take part in SBC Summit Lisbon 2026, held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa. The team will be based at Stand A326 in Hall 1, the event’s Networking Lounge sponsored by NuxGame, where operators can sit down with senior staff from the product and commercial teams.

From Software Provider to Open Ecosystem

The timing suits where the business now stands. NuxGame began in 2018 as a software provider for operators launching their first projects, and today it runs an open ecosystem built around operator growth. Lisbon is one of the few occasions in the year when all of it can be seen in one place, by the people who would use it day to day.

What Operators Will See at Stand A326

Across the three days, the team will walk operators through the NuxGame Ecosystem in full:

An award-winning turnkey casino and sportsbook platform.

A game aggregator with 18,500+ titles from 140+ providers.

Sweepstakes-ready infrastructure.

A vetted network of partners covering CRM, payments, orchestration, and traffic.

That last part saves time. Instead of assessing vendors market by market, operators plug into partners already working in the regions they are entering, with the software underneath coming from a single provider. It is all backed by a service team whose client satisfaction has averaged 4.8 out of 5 over the past six months.

Denis Kosinsky on the Compliance Tech Stage

On Thursday, Oct. 1, NuxGame Chief Product Officer Denis Kosinsky will join the panel “Closing the Loopholes: How to Combat Bonus Abuse” on the Regulation & Compliance stage, part of the summit’s new Compliance Tech track. The session looks at how operators can recognize evolving patterns of bonus exploitation and keep promotional spend flowing to the players it was designed for.

“A bonus budget is one of the most powerful growth tools an operator has, and it works best when the money reaches genuine players. The instinct is to tighten the rules for everyone, but that’s like locking the whole building because one window doesn’t shut. Better to find the window. When you can see clearly how a promotion is actually being used, you close that one gap and leave the offer generous for everybody else.”

— Denis Kosinsky, Chief Product Officer at NuxGame

Book a Meeting in Lisbon

“Lisbon is where a lot of operators decide what their next year looks like. We wanted a space where those conversations can happen properly, with the platform, the content, and the partner network all in the room at once. Twenty minutes with the right people will tell you more than three months of comparing suppliers on paper.”

— Daniel Heywood, Chief Executive Officer at NuxGame

Operators, affiliates, and partners attending the summit can book a meeting with the NuxGame team in advance, or stop by Stand A326 in Hall 1 on any of the three days.

About NuxGame

NuxGame is a B2B iGaming company founded in 2018 that has grown from a software provider into an open ecosystem for operator growth. It combines an award-winning casino and sportsbook platform, a game aggregator with 18,500+ titles from 140+ providers, sweepstakes-ready infrastructure, and a vetted network of partners covering CRM, payments, orchestration, and traffic, supporting 100+ operators worldwide as they launch, scale, and enter new markets. In 2026, NuxGame was named Casino Platform of the Year at the iGaming News Awards. Visit https://nuxgame.com/ for more information and inquiries.

Media Contact: Yanina Kaplya, CMO at NuxGame, info@nuxgame.com

Original Source: https://nuxgame.com/blog/nuxgame-sbc-summit-lisbon-2026

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