Blog

Why Math AND Reading Are Critical for Future Success

By Jim Wambach
March 17, 2025

Building Early Confidence and a Love for Numbers is Essential.

A recent study from the Urban Institute underscores the significant impact of early math skills on an individual’s long-term earnings. Reading is a critical academic skill to acquire. However, as reported in an article by The 74, “Math achievement in adolescence is more strongly associated with future earnings than reading achievement or other factors like behavior and social skills.” This underscores why we must consider achieving math fluency and literacy with a similar sense of urgency and priority for our elementary school children.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

At Children Rising, we recognize that math and reading are crucial building blocks for lifelong success. Unfortunately, 70% of the children in Oakland’s lowest-income neighborhoods are two or more grade levels behind in their understanding of basic math and numbers. This is particularly true for Black and Latino students, who suffer from systemic educational inequities. Without intervention, these children continue to see themselves as incapable of understanding math. Most will give up on math and are far more likely to struggle in middle school and beyond, substantially limiting their academic and life opportunities.

“I think we’ve taken math identity and agency away from kids, and just squashed the love that you find in 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds when they’re exploring numbers. Kids just really get turned off of mathematics, so I think we’re fighting that right now.” – DeAnn Huinker, professor of math instruction at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Too often, children and adults believe they are “not good at math.” Sadly, in many cases, the children have lost their natural love and curiosity for numbers. Math is a skill that can be learned and developed by EVERYONE with the proper support. That’s why our Path2Math program provides free math tutoring for second and third-graders in Oakland, helping students develop foundational math skills and critical reasoning abilities. Equally important, our tutors build caring relationships that foster confidence and resilience in young learners. And we make math fun for the kids!

If we want to break the cycle of poverty, we must start by overcoming the educational inequity in our community schools. By providing children with free, one-on-one math intervention, we can help them build a solid foundation for future success in middle school, high school, and beyond. Community volunteers play a powerful role in this effort—anyone can be a fantastic math tutor with the right training and desire to empower a child’s ability to learn and succeed.

Tutor a child! Yes, I can help a child learn reading and math!

 I want to tutor a child in reading or math!

I want to fund Children Rising tutoring programs!

Jacob’s Journey: From Hesitant Reader to Confident Learner

By Eric Steckel
March 13, 2025

Your Generosity Helped Jacob Realize His Potential, Build Confidence, and Achieve New Milestones In Reading.

Jacob’s transformation in Children Rising’s Succeeding by Reading program is a heartwarming reading intervention success story—a testament to perseverance, encouragement, and the impact of one-on-one support. Initially hesitant and unsure about participating, Jacob faced challenges in recognizing the value of his efforts. He occasionally arrived with a less-than-enthusiastic demeanor, but his tutors, Doris Wu, and Jan Ghirardelli, remained steadfast in their support and encouragement.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

A Breakthrough Moment That Changed Everything

In spring 2024, Jacob had a breakthrough. Jacob shifted his outlook, motivated by seeing his peers advance and the gentle guidance of his teacher and tutors. Doris recalls, “Jacob would sometimes resist, but as the year progressed, he realized he could succeed if he worked hard. At the end of the year, he surprised us by reflecting on how changing his attitude helped him advance. That moment made all the effort worthwhile.” Jacob’s response was heartfelt when asked what he learned: “By changing my attitude, I was able to move to purple.” This self-reflection amazed his tutors, who celebrated his academic and personal growth.

“…As the year progressed, Jacob realized he could succeed if he worked hard.”

Jan shared, “Seeing Jacob hug us at the end-of-year celebration was incredible. It showed us how much progress he had made, trusting and believing in himself, not just in reading.” Jacob is now working at the blue level in January 2025, the highest in the program. While he may not fully grasp that completing this level places him on track for grade-level reading, his tutors continue to encourage him. Doris noted, “Finishing this (blue) level is a significant milestone. It’s an achievement that reflects how far he’s come since starting the program.”

More Than Just Better Grades

This transformation wasn’t just about moving to the next reading level. It was about Jacob realizing his potential and gaining confidence—an outcome made possible by the dedication of his tutors and the support of donors like you.

Your generosity fuels these moments of triumph. Together, we can continue to inspire children like Jacob to overcome challenges and embrace their future with hope. Thank you for making a difference.

When you make monthly gifts, you give children a fairer chance to succeed in school … and in life.

Tutor a child! Yes, I can help a child learn reading and math!

 I want to tutor a child in reading or math!

I want to fund Children Rising tutoring programs!

* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.

Math Tutoring For Kids Unlocks Potential, One Child at a Time

By Eric Steckel
March 10, 2025

Thanks to Your Support and His Tutor Lisa, Xander Turned Fidgeting Into Confidence

Think back to second grade. Do you remember a classmate who was always moving, always talking, always fidgeting? I do—because I was that kid. My teacher once told my parents, “Whenever there’s a disruption in class, Eric may not have started it, but he’s always there.” I was tagged as disruptive.

That’s why Xander’s story resonates with me. A bright and energetic third grader, Xander started the year 1 1/2 grade levels behind in math.

Will you complete HER Circle of Care?

Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.

Yes, I want to uplift a child in school today!

A Teaching Approach That Matches Zain’s Energy.

Sitting still is a challenge, but thanks to his dedicated Path2Math tutor, Lisa Haut, and a lot of hard (but fun) work, he is making incredible strides. In just a few months, he has already gained a full year’s progress.

Children like Xander are often labeled as “unfocused” or “difficult to teach.” But with the right support, they thrive. Lisa recognizes that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. She taps into Xander’s energy by incorporating movement, hands-on activities, and encouragement tailored just for him. “The connection is unbelievably powerful,” Lisa shares. “I want them to feel good about themselves. That’s the foundation for learning.”

“When you work with second and third-graders, it’s amazing because they’re like sponges. They come in, and they enjoy this, and it makes us walk away feeling really happy.”

Lisa recalls a moment when Xander discovered the power of checking his own work. She showed him how to verify subtraction by adding the answer back to one of the original numbers. When he realized he could confirm his own answers, his enthusiasm was undeniable. “He gets really excited when he can check his own work,” Lisa says. “It gives him confidence, and that’s huge.”

While Xander is quick with numbers—multiplication comes naturally to him—word problems present a challenge. Translating a simple story into an equation doesn’t click as easily. But Lisa is working with him to bridge that gap, providing extra practice and new ways to engage with problems. Step by step, his confidence is growing.

For kids like Xander, a tutor isn’t just a teacher—she’s an advocate, a motivator, a guide. Your support of Path2Math ensures that more children can receive the one-on-one attention they need to reach their full potential.

Will you help unlock the potential of a child like Xander?

Your gift today provides the one-on-one tutoring that changes lives.

Tutor a child! Yes, I can help a child learn reading and math!

 I want to tutor a child in reading or math!

I want to fund Children Rising tutoring programs!

* Children Rising respects the privacy of our students. While all the stories we share are genuine and true, we change names as needed to protect student privacy.