About Math in the Mail

Enrolling vs. Subscribing

​Math in the Mail focuses on developing mathematical skills in three-year-old children by providing the tools needed in home environments for parents, guardians, and other caregivers. By enhancing preschool aged children’s mathematical understanding and confidence, Math in the Mail provides the foundational mathematics essential to children experiencing success in future STEM related content and careers. 

Families enrolled in Math in the Mail receive a kit in the mail, 6 times per year (approx. every 8 weeks), which contains materials, resources, and instructions for several age-appropriate math activities. The program is FREE to those who qualify. Math in the Mail is also available by subscription to those who don't meet the qualification guidelines for the free program. 

Why Math in the Mail is Effective

​Math in the Mail helps to develop math skills in three-year-olds by providing the tools needed for parents/caregivers to help their child learn at home through play. It is FREE for families living in Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland or Saginaw counties with household incomes at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline, and low-cost for others by subscription. (Click here to view a video introduction of Math in the Mail.) An outside evaluation of Math in the Mail found that participating children, upon entering preschool, performed more than two times better than their peers on foundational math skills! (Click here to view the full report.) Equally important, Math in the Mail also provides positive experiences with foundational math for children and their families....but why is Math in the Mail effective?

Math in the Mail is Collaborative

Funded by the Dow Corning Foundation since 2016, it is a collaboration between the Bay-Arenac ISD, Clare-Gladwin RESD, Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Midland ESA, and the Saginaw ISD. Math in the Mail is part of a focus to prepare children for K-12 STEM experiences and careers in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. It has been embraced by agencies providing Head Start preschool in each of the eight counties of the Great Lakes Bay Region as a valued resource. Math in the Mail partners with several community partners, and kits are assembled 100% by volunteers from the community. In the first three years of the program, volunteers from more than thirty different organizations in the region helped to assemble kits. The collaborative spirit of Math in the Mail has created advocates not only for the program itself, but for foundational math in general.

Math in the Mail Builds Excitement

​Everyone gets excited when a package arrives in the mail with their name on it. “I love seeing my kids explode with excitement when our Math in the Mail arrives!” said a parent whose son received Math in the Mail during its first year. “It has gotten them very excited about math.” Sending boxes through the mail addressed to three year olds is just the first step to the unique way that Math in the Mail helps children to build a positive relationship with math. The next step is to make the kits engaging by including a book focused on math  and components that promote exploration and play.  By sending the kits to each child’s home, the kits feel more like a gift, and therefore the child is excited to explore what’s inside.

Math in the Mail is Social

Not only are the kits designed to promote interactive play, families can also follow Math in the Mail on social media to gain information and ideas that will help them strengthen their child’s preschool math skills. The sharing of activities, tips and resources on social media allows anyone to learn more about foundational math skills and how to encourage their child’s development.​

Math in the Mail Supports Parents/Caregivers

Research has shown that young children are eager and developmentally ready to build their foundation of math skills in the earliest years of life. However, parents may not be aware of how to help their child build those foundational math skills, and may be impeded by their own negative experiences with math. Math in the Mail kits provide the materials and information necessary to make foundational math fun and accessible - for both children and their parents. To help parents and caregivers support children in their early math learning, a set of cards with ideas for activities and information on how the activities help their child build their early math skills are included in each kit. A web page with extension activities and additional resources for each kit is made available on the website.  Empowering adults (who may have math anxiety of their own) to help their children learn allows two generations to create positive connections with math - and each other.​

Math in the Mail is Accessible

Qualifying families receive a FREE kit in the mail, six times per year, which contain materials, resources, and instructions for several age-appropriate math activities. Children from Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw counties can be enrolled in Math in the Mail.   To enroll, families should visit the enrollment page, or call 989-399-7415. Enrollment is ongoing.  A subscription option is also available for families who do not qualify for the grant funded program or who live outside the Great Lakes Bay Region.  Creating opportunities for children to have access to quality early math resources is a step towards a more equitable education for the future leaders of our region.
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