Your child who asks "when am I ever going to use this?" just found a math class where that question never comes up — because in Life of Fred, the math always shows up exactly when Fred needs it. You've probably tried more than one approach to math with your kid. Worksheets that go nowhere. Curriculum that covers the concepts but loses the child somewhere in the middle. Life of Fred is something different. It's a math curriculum built inside a story — a genuinely funny, surprising, slightly absurd story about a five-year-old math professor named Fred and his cat, who together stumble into situations that just happen to require math to get out of. Over 9 weeks, students read throug some of the the Cats book together (some at home) stopping to work through the math as it naturally appears in Fred's world. The concepts are real — counting, addition, patterns, telling time, ordinal numbers, and more — but they arrive through story, which means the brain is already engaged before the math even shows up. For kids who disconnect the moment a lesson feels like a lesson, this changes everything. Each session explores the math Fred encounters, and gives students time to work through the "Your Turn to Play" problems at their own pace in their own way. However, we will also take time to stretch and extend some math situations! Discussion is woven throughout — kids share their thinking, compare approaches, and occasionally argue about what Fred should have done differently. That's the goal. Math that feels worth talking about!
*Neurodivergent teacher & homeschool mom with 20+ years of combined experience *Skilled in supporting students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences *Bachelor’s in Elementary Education & Master’s in Information Technology *Christian, wife, and mom who values faith, family, and kindness *I love reading, baking, and spending time with my family *Passionate about helping neurodivergent learners thrive in their unique strengths
Natalia
Kitchen Chemists: Candy ChromatographyThis was such a fun and engaging class! My daughter loved the hands-on candy chromatography experiment and enjoyed learning how scientists use the scientific method to ask questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions. It was a wonderful blend of science, creativity, and fun!
Show moreJennifer
Kitchen Chemists: Fizzy Hearts & Chemical ReactionsI’m pretty sure my daughter has taken every Kitchen Chemist Class. She loves them! You can just feel how much Mrs. Candice loves these kids and it makes my heart happy! They learn a lot and have fun doing it!
Show moreJennifer
Kitchen Chemists: The Secret World of Colloids (Ice Cream, Butter, & Oobleck)The Kitchen Chemist classes are so much fun and the kids learn so much!!! My daughter loves these classes!
Millie (student)
Kitchen Chemists: Cake Balls and ChocolateI loved this class it was so fun. you get to learn how to make a really fun easy and yummy treat that I have made at least 3 times. you should definitely take this class.
Sandy (mom)
Math Missions Live! Problem Solving AdventuresI recommend this class if you want your kids to "play" with math. This is no pressure math. Candice presents the "math mission" at the beginning of class. Then the students work through it in whatever way their brain works. Sometimes it's collaborative and sometimes its individual. She meets every kid where they're at. When my daughter needed a break from the traditional math lessons, this was our go to.
Show moreSandy (mom)
Kitchen Chemists: Oobleck!My daughter loves the whole Kitchen Chemist series. This Oobleck class was so fun. She played with it for days. What I love about Ms Parks is that she encourages the kids to be real scientists by asking questions, forming their own hypothesis and then testing it. She doesn't expect them to just do it exactly like she does. She encourages experimentation.
