Our after school programs have grown tremendously in the past year. We’re up to 60 classrooms, chiefly on the South and West Sides of Chicago. Thanks to the 75 teachers hosting these programs at their schools, we’re bringing our enriching Math Circles lesson plans to more students than ever before.

As the After School Program Manager, I worked closely with these 75 teachers to get their programs up and running. This fall my staff and I have visited most of our first-year teachers. Getting into classrooms and witnessing students engage with our lesson plans is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I’m most proud of how teachers feel about our program.

Teaching is tough, and trying to teach Math in a country where literacy rates stay low just makes it harder to highlight what our Math classrooms really need. When I hear teachers say that our After School Program helps them find joy in teaching Math again, it really feels like we’re doing our part to ease some of that burnout teachers experience. Teachers often share stories about students who used to struggle to enjoy math but have been able to rebuild their relationship with the subject in a really positive way thanks to their time in the Math Circles After School Program.

And because their voices matter most, below you'll find what some of the teachers we visited this fall had to say!

Valeria Leiva, After School Program Manager

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“Facilitating a lesson from MC² is very different from how I learned math growing up. As a student, math was mostly about following steps to get the right answer. With MC2, students explore patterns, share ideas, and explain their reasoning.

This has impacted how I teach because I now strive to focus more on questioning, discussion, and letting students discover the math for themselves. This will help  my lessons become more engaging. As a result, students are taking more ownership of their learning and thinking more deeply about the “why” behind the math.” - Alisa Alfonsi Teaching Haynes 5th-6th Curriculum at Horace Greeley Elementary

“At the beginning of our session I asked one of our students if they liked Math and they said no, but they said that they really enjoy Math Circles so I think it’s changing their perspective. Students need more opportunities to have fun in Math and we see that happening in our After School Program!” - Annette Booczko Teaching Cheng 3rd-4th Curriculum at Funston Elementary

“We had one student who was in my class previously and they had a lot of trouble working in groups. He has been doing remarkable work with his group in Math Circles. He is really shining and it makes me so happy to see.” Hannah Jacobs Teaching Cheng 3rd-4th Curriculum at Funston Elementary

“As a student, math was all formulas and procedures, and questions were only welcome if they fit the plan. Creativity wasn’t part of it. But in Math Circles, it’s completely different. The room is loud with ideas. Students jump in because they’re excited. They ask real questions, challenge each other, laugh, and wonder.” Ronalyn Javier Teaching Haynes 5th-6th at Monarcas Academy

“I really love the visual aspect of Math Circles activities. I often feel like I am learning with the students so I really appreciate being a part of Math Circles” - Muhammad Quraishi Teaching Brahmagupta 7th-8th Curriculum at Horace Greeley Elementary

“The best part was the room buzzing with excitement. Students wanted to swap partners, play again, and even asked for paper copies to take home so they could challenge their siblings and parents. It turned into way more than just a game; it was pure fun, teamwork, and creative problem solving all rolled into one.” Nicole Wimberly Teaching Cheng 3rd-4th Grade at Fernwood Elementary reflecting on a lesson