Boosting Confidence and Building Math Fluency—One Game at a Time
When fourth grade teacher Erin Raab received a grant from Foundation 65, she knew exactly where to focus her energy: on helping students who were behind in math feel more confident, capable, and cared for.
With funding support, Raab joined the Books and Breakfast program twice a week, bringing math games, quick fluency check-ins, and a contagious enthusiasm for numbers. Her goal? To help second and third graders build basic math fact fluency—and to make it fun.
A Safe Space to Learn and Grow
Books and Breakfast is more than just an early-morning program. It’s a safe, welcoming place where students who qualify for free or reduced lunch can start the day ready to learn. By embedding math fluency work into this trusted setting, Raab tapped into a space where students already felt seen and supported.
“I taught any student or adult who had questions about math homework,” Raab shared. “Tutors would join us to learn the games. If any child worked on math during my visits, they’d earn a prize.”
This simple but powerful structure helped students build momentum—and pride. The more they practiced, the more confident they became. Over time, the math anxiety many students carried started to dissolve.
Impact Beyond the Numbers
Raab saw remarkable changes:
Fluency improved. Students progressed from addition to multiplication through short assessments every six weeks.
Confidence soared. “They would run up to me in the hallway to tell me what math they were working on,” Raab said.
Community deepened. Tutors gained strategies to support kids in math, and classroom teachers started sending math work for Raab to use during the program.
Even families—many of whom are unfamiliar with the current math curriculum—benefited. “By supporting the tutors and teaching the math myself, it took some of the stress and burden off families at home,” said Raab.
Seeds for Future Growth
This grant laid the foundation for future expansion. Raab has spent her second year building on what she accomplished last year and dreaming about the future of this program.
Her biggest takeaway? It wasn’t just the fluency group that benefited.
“All of the Books and Breakfast kids wanted to do math while I was there. It became a part of the culture—and the kids were proud of it.”
The Power of a Small Grant
“Foundation 65 gave me the resources to boost confidence, foster a love of math, and make connections with students beyond those in my classroom.”
With a modest investment, Foundation 65 helped make math a source of joy—not stress—for students who needed it most. That’s the kind of impact we’re proud to support.