Today we’d like to introduce you to Ameerah Bello.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It was an average day, just like any other; and all I can remember vividly is the sense of joy, excitement, and an adrenaline rush to be a part of the prestigious World University Games, in Fukuoka, Japan, Circa, 1995. Being in Japan was an invaluable experience itself, and at the time, as a part of the US Virgin Islands athletic delegation, we were given the opportunities to explore the beauty, tradition, and food. The highlight of the day would be an observatory visit to a School.
During the visit, I witnessed the proficiency of Japanese children in Mathematics. I was totally amazed and wowed but being a part of an international competition, I was more focused on winning rather than, What an amazing skill!
Fast forward to the point in my life, when I started homeschooling my twin daughters Maida and Mainuma when they were about 2 years old. I always knew that I sucked at Math, but while teaching my kids I realized, how much Mathematics made me uneasy, and one of the obvious reasons is a psychological aversion towards the subject, along with a lack of practice, and another reason would be the way that I was taught. To be honest, Mathematics did make me queasy, uneasy, and anxious. The worse I felt, the worse I performed, and the worse I performed, the worse I felt. (Can anyone relate?) It was a vicious cycle of negativity, and I carried it till I looked at the faces of my kids, anxious, and struck by the same anxiety. The realization hit me hard, and I instantly decided to make some changes for children.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” — Lao Tzu
I started researching more effective ways of teaching math to young children. A few weeks in the struggle, out of the blue, I was back in Japan, in that ecosystem, where the students followed a progressive learning system using the abacus.
That’s when I started looking at the abacus as the tool to teach my girls.
“Passion is a bridge from possibility to probability.” — T.F. Hodge
On the basis of my experience watching Japanese kids, I immediately sought out the tool. And since the ones on the market were too complicated for me to get easily, I decided to build my own. That’s when I created the jr. counter- inspired by the Soroban Abacus with a little American twist. Through a combination of innovation, and tradition out came the Jr.Counter that allows the user to add pieces to form a collective.
Once I figured out the tool, I started seeing exceptional blended and active learning in my own, so I started creating a progressive curriculum around the Jr.Counter aimed to improve and enhance the efficiency of math learning.
“Dull minds are never either intuitive or mathematical.” — Blaise Pascal, Pensées
Then came a Pro-Bono patent application to go with the course, and jumping on the Start-up Incubator-horse, (4.0 Schools, ATDC, gAlpha, gBeta, DigitalUndevided) the idea took flight right into the acceleration phase.
Mathematic, Jr. is out on the mission to improve and enhance how young children are exposed to math.
We champion Math-mastery for the young.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has been neither smooth nor filled with adversity. It has been a journey of self-discovery, self-motivation, self-determination, and making myself step out. I didn’t begin in a clear end in mind. I made 2019 my year of ‘yes,’ which means I made myself ‘show up in places and spaces where normally I would feel like I didn’t deserve to be in. I approached each project with the attitude of ‘how can I make this happen’ versus, ‘this can’t happen.’ As an older person, a mom I felt like I had no business trying to build a business, but at the same time, I was feeling constrained within the four walls of my work environment. Being an entrepreneur just made me want to exercise my ‘somebodies- that person that parents (lovingly) advise you to suppress in order to be safe. Well, I’m too old to play it safe and I’m too old to take big risks, but I believe I’m just in the right place.
Building my venture has been about pushing myself, just enough, by showing up where I needed to be without fear.
I discovered that my venture matters. My passion matters. My ideas have value, monetary and value to families.
So my road hasn’t necessarily been smooth, but most struggles were largely internal. I had to change my perspective on my own capacity and place in the business ecosystem.
It is and has been a wonderful journey. Seeing sales on my website. Witness families using my material. Creating partnerships, across the country and across the globe is been food for my soul.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Math, Jr. is all about empowerment. It is a comprehensive math program aimed to help parents develop early math mastery with the use of:
~ My patent-pending modernized, simplified abacus called the junior counter
~ Our culturally intentional workbooks
~ Our innovative math ‘story workbooks’ where children engage with math through storytelling
~ Our fun and interactive live remote Abacus Math Club (we’ll soon be offering fae-to-fae classes in January 2022)
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
COVID taught me to try to understand the opportunities that exist during times of adversity. To seize the moment. To pivot quickly. Not to be afraid to be a maverick. I had NEVER intended to offer virtual class, with COVID I did and has been one of the best components of my venture. I was able to connect with people from all over the world. At one point I have students in one class from California to Qatar.
COVID opened doors and opportunities for Math, Jr.
Pricing:
- $150- 6 sessions face to face sessions
- $110- 6 virtual sessions
- $34- junior counter
- $84- 8 story workbook series
- $10- skill builder flashcards
Contact Info:
- Email: ameerah@mathjr.org
- Website: www.mathjr.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathematicianjunior/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathematicianjr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqhlQe8UHpf5EnZOhX1SHOg
