For first and second-graders at Thousand Oaks Elementary, math time looks a little different these days. Students huddle over card games and roll dice. They’re not just playing, they are building the math fluency and number sense that will help them succeed in third grade and beyond.
This transformation is powered by a Berkeley Public Schools Fund Equity Grant, which supports Math Coaches Emily Ellingson and Mandy Hubbard as they strengthen early math pathways across Thousand Oaks.
In their grant application, Ellingson and Hubbard highlighted a challenge that may sound familiar to many educators and families: the current math curriculum doesn’t always give every student enough time or support to fully develop their addition and subtraction facts. They described how too many students “enter 3rd grade with inefficient and inaccurate ways to add and subtract. These facts are a foundational skill, and students who lack them struggle with later math concepts.”
Ellingson and Hubbard’s vision to mitigate this problem was straightforward. They planned to teach students how to use 10 as a “friendly number” and become comfortable with breaking numbers apart. With those foundations, students will feel more confident and better prepared for future math instruction.
When the Schools Fund’s Grants Review Committee read the proposal, they saw both focus and collaboration. As one grant reviewer put it:
“The project presents a focused and targeted approach to academic support and intervention, with clear buy-in from the adults implementing the program.… We’re encouraged by the overall direction of the program and look forward to seeing its continued growth and positive outcomes for students and families.”
Now, with the Schools Fund’s support, the Math Coaches are:
- Leading targeted small-group fluency practice so students can master addition and subtraction facts up to 20
- Embedding games and hands-on activities that let students explore number flexibility in engaging ways
- Hosting Family Math Nights
- Collaborating with other math coaches, district math leaders, classroom teachers, and families during their project
Reflecting on their results, Ellingson says,
“The targeted fluency practice that the students are receiving is already making such a positive impact. I am seeing growth and engagement with so many students with this program. And they are having so much fun!”
Equity Grants like this one show what’s possible when educators’ ideas are matched with community support. The Berkeley Public Schools Fund is proud to stand behind the work of Ellingson, Hubbard, and others who are making learning accessible for more students across BUSD.