OUR STORY
Math Language began in 2016 when Melanie King noticed her daughter, Najja, plateauing in math. Najja was earning straight A's, but her standardized test scores told a different story. She scored in the 79th percentile, demonstrating proficiency but not mastery. Melanie knew her daughter was capable of more. Like many students, Najja didn't see herself as a "math person." And like many parents, Melanie wasn't convinced that another workbook or tutoring program would solve the problem.
So she started asking different questions. For two years, Melanie researched, experimented, and developed new ways to make mathematical ideas not just understandable, but memorable and engaging. Instead of focusing on rote memorization, she focused on reasoning. Instead of repeating procedures, she helped Najja explore how and why math worked. The results were striking. Najja’s scores climbed to the 99th percentile, and by the end of fifth grade, she tested into Honors Algebra I.
Word spread quickly. Teachers, parents, and students all wanted to know what had changed. What began as a breakthrough between mother and daughter soon evolved into a school program, and then into something much larger. Each year, the program returned to serve new students. Many started even further behind, yet reached the same remarkable outcomes. The results weren’t a one-time success; they were repeatable. And the need was clear.
Over the past decade, Math Language has grown and evolved with every cohort of students it serves. The program has incorporated best practices from across the education field while continuing to refine its original approach: helping students truly understand mathematics rather than simply memorize it. That commitment to thoughtful instruction and continuous improvement has led Math Language to become a recognized Chicago Public Schools vendor, bringing its proven approach to students across the city.
Today, Math Language is led by Melanie alongside Dr. Roland Steele, Head of Curriculum Research and Development. Together, they combine lived experience, educational research, and a shared belief that guides everything they do:
Every child is a math person. They just need to learn the language.