Let Kids teach teachers teach MatheMatics as ManyMath, a natural science about MANY using flexible bundle-numbers with units to count and recount before adding on-top and next-to; the CATS approach: Count & Add in Time & Space
Yes, core mathematics may be learned through its historic root, economics, describing how humans share what they produce
Asking “How many did I produce?” roots counting, predicted by division iconizing a broom pushing away bundles, to be stacked by a multiplication-lift, to be pulled away by a subtraction-rope to look for unbundled singles, to be added on-top or next-to, thus rooting decimal and negative numbers
Recounting in a new unit creates a recount formula, used to solve equations, and to change units as in most STEM formulas
Uniting stacks on-top or next-to roots proportionality or calculus
So why make mathematics hard when it may also be easy & meaningful?