Transforming Mindsets
Transforming Mindsets
Transforming Mindsets
Rebuilding Confidence
Transforming Mindsets
Transforming Mindsets
Unlocking Potential
Transforming Mindsets
Unlocking Potential
Step 1. Finding the Root Cause
At first, we assumed low test scores were caused by a lack of resources—books, tutors, or after-school support. So we brought in volunteers to tutor students in class and online.
But something didn’t add up.
Most students didn’t seek help. Many disrupted class or shut down.
Ms. Huang explained why:
“They do want to learn. But they don’t trust you yet—and they don’t believe they can succeed.”
That insight changed everything. Beneath the surface was a crisis of confidence.
Students had internalized the idea that they just weren’t “math people.” Acting
uninterested was how they hid the pain of feeling incapable.
The real barrier wasn’t a lack of resources—it was a lack of belief.
Step 2. Finding a Solution — and a Miracle
Searching for a breakthrough, we found a retired master teacher: Mr. Michael Q. Xu of Phoenix, Arizona.
For 25 years, Mr. Xu taught in urban schools where 85% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch. His results?
95–100% of students consistently reached grade-level proficiency—often outperforming gifted programs.
His secret: teaching math as a language of logic and discovery, not memorization.
Mr. Xu’s Philosophy
“Math is not just numbers. It’s logic, language, and a lens to understand the world.”
Core Beliefs
- Every student can thrive when curiosity is sparked.
- Teaching quality is measured by student outcomes.
- Understanding beats memorization—every time.
How It Works
1. Build Understanding – Small, clear concepts with real-world meaning.
2. Facilitate Learning – Students explore and explain; teachers guide.
3. Celebrate Growth – Normalize “I don’t know” and reward effort.
4. Engage Every Mind – Tiered challenges and joyful discovery.
5. Build Fluency – Master tools (like times tables) to unlock higher thinking.
This approach transforms classrooms into spaces of curiosity, confidence, and joy.
Step 3. Recreating Success in East Palo Alto
In 2024, Ms. Huang visited Mr. Xu in Phoenix to learn his methods firsthand.
With support from the Palo Alto University Rotary Club, Mr. Xu then spent a week
coaching in Ms. Huang’s classroom.
The change was immediate:
- Students leaned in.
- Disruptions dropped.
- Engagement soared.
This year, Mr. Xu returned for a month of demonstration teaching and ongoing
mentorship, funded through $10,000 raised by community partners.
What We Learned
Ms. Huang describes two key takeaways:
1. Turning Passive Learners into Active Learners
- Students identify what they don’t know—and turn curiosity into action.
- Teachers guide as facilitators; students teach peers.
- Recognize student discoveries—name math rules after them!
- Build pride and accountability (“The bus can’t leave without you”).
- Celebrate growth: Mathematician of the Day.
2. Aiming for Mastery, Not Coverage
- Break learning into small, winnable steps.
- Mix lesson types to strengthen memory.
- Scaffold complexity: 1-step → 2-step → 3-step problems.
- Celebrate mastery moments every 10–20 minutes.
- Build algebra readiness through logical patterns.
Now, Ms. Huang’s classroom is alive with energy. Students compete to solve “IDK” problems and explain them at the board—discovering joy and pride in learning math.
To further motivate mastery, students who memorize their multiplication tables earn small rewards—like a McDonald’s lunch together.
Step 4. Bringing Success to Scale
We believe we’ve uncovered a scalable model to transform math literacy from the inside out—rooted in confidence, curiosity, and conceptual understanding.
This comes at a pivotal moment.
With new partnerships emerging between Microsoft and Khan Academy to explore AI in education, we see an opportunity to complement technology with human-centered learning.
But AI can’t reach the unmotivated learner—the student who already feels left out of math.
We believe Mr. Xu’s approach holds a vital missing piece of that puzzle.
We are now seeking partners and collaborators—especially connections to Khan
Academy’s leadership—to bring this vision to a broader stage.
Together, we can make math literacy a birthright, not a privilege.