“Math is innately in us”

With the above quote, Jermell Witherspoon of Zeno reminded participants of the math brilliance that lives within each and every child during the inaugural session of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s Early Math + Early Literacy series hosted on May 5, 2022. Zeno’s mission is to spark joy and inspire a love of math in young children and families through racial equity, family engagement and play, all centered in the experiences of communities of color. One of the ways they are spreading this “joy” is through their work in partnership with ParentChild+.

Witherspoon was joined by Pamela Williams of ParentChild+ Start Early WA and Erin Kinsella of ParentChild+ Encompass. Each shared highlights of the partnership between ParentChild+ and Zeno. In a conversation moderated by Malkia Singleton Ofori-Agyekum of ParentChild+, the presenters noted that Zeno’s work with ParentChild+ home visitors and families has had a significant impact on the work of lifting up early mathematics.

After each presenter shared their experiences with Zeno and ParentChild+, Singleton shared a  video depicting a family using Zeno math and bringing to life the work that Zeno and ParentChild+ are doing in the homes of the families they serve. The panelists also discussed how Zeno and ParentChild+ address barriers to this work and support the development of a positive math identity.