Taking the Dread out of Math Lessons for Benjamin, Cassandra, Edmund, Graham, Hadara, and Ivy

When mathematics is something you dread, it can be a challenge to help your children but also ensure they don’t learn to dread math themselves. Elephant Learning helped this homeschooling mom deliver math curriculum, bring her children’s learning up to grade level, and bring back everyone’s enthusiasm for math learning. 

1.) Challenges

Homeschooling presents many challenges for parents. However, delivering a math curriculum is a particular challenge for some, compounded when parents or guardians don't feel they have the skills to help their children. This was Melissa's problem as she homeschooled her seven children aged three to sixteen. "Math is one area I have always struggled with. So it is difficult to ensure my kids get an excellent math education," says Melissa. But Melissa also says that she is "learning that when I struggle, I need to ask for help." 

Melissa felt that she needed help to deliver a math curriculum for her children.  In particular, she wanted something to fill the gaps she had identified in her children’s math learning and ensure they were at grade level or beyond. 

As someone who dreads math herself, Melissa knew how vital attitude and confidence is to math success. So, she also wanted the kind of assistance that would encourage her children’s confidence in math and inspire them to look forward to their math lessons.  

2.) Finding Elephant Learning

Luckily, says Melissa, she found an ad for Elephant Learning on Facebook. The app seemed to be exactly what she was looking for according to the reviews and descriptions of Elephant Learning. She applied for and received a scholarship for five of her children: fifteen-year-old Benjamin, fourteen-year-old Cassandra, eleven-year-old Edmund, eight-year-old Graham, seven-year-old Hadara, and four-year-old Ivy.

Related: Math Lessons Can Be a Huge Challenge for a Homeschooling Mom With Math Anxiety

3.) Benjamin, Cassandra, Edmund, Graham, Hadara, and Ivy’s Experience With Elephant Learning

The results were everything Melissa imagined and more!  In just the first six months of using Elephant Learning, the five children who used the app, all made remarkable progress. They were soon doing math at or near their grade level. Elephant Learning provided the extra help in delivering mathematics that Melissa needed but also delivered on its promise to ensure users would gain at least one year's worth of math in six months. Several of Melissa's children, including Benjamin and Ivy, gained well over two years' worth of math! 

Related: Delilah and Lee Don’t Let Extreme Shyness and a Fear of Failure Slow Down Their Math Learning

4.) Benjamin’s Results: 

• Age: 15.8 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 9.4 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 11.5 years
• The difference after six months: 2.1 years!

Cassandra’s Results: 

• Age: 14 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 9 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 10.8 years
• The difference after six months: 1.8 years

Edmund’s Results:

• Age: 11.9 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 9 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 10.5 years
• The difference after six months: 1.5 years!

Graham’s Results: 

• Age: 8.9 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 7.7 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 8.8 years
• The difference after six months: 1.1 years

Hadara’s Results:

• Age: 7 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 5.6 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 6.9 years
• The difference after six months: 1.3 years

Ivy’s Results:

• Age: 3.9 years
• Starting Elephant Learning Age: 3 years
• Current Elephant Learning Age: 5.8 years
• The difference after six months: 2.8 years

“As a homeschooling mom, I just can’t do it all.” - Mom, Melissa