Written By: Danielle Marie Jeffers, VP of Workforce Innovation

Why Goldfish Crackers Might Be the Secret to Teaching Math

Teaching math to a group of homeschool students ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade is… an adventure. Picture herding cats—but the cats have snacks, strong opinions, and wildly different attention spans.

In my group, I have one particular student: Jackson, a first grader who has made it very clear that math is not his thing.

Reading? Loves it.
Stories? Absolutely.
Math? Hard pass.

But here’s what Jackson does love: snacks and cooking. In fact, he has big dreams of becoming a chef one day—complete with a giant kitchen (I assume with unlimited snack access).

So instead of trying to convince Jackson that math worksheets are thrilling (they are not, and he knows it), I tried something different.

I told him: “Hey, if you’re going to be a chef, you’re going to need math.”

Suddenly, I had his attention.

We started talking about recipes—how you double them, cut them in half, measure ingredients, and make sure everything balances. Then we took it one step further and used… goldfish crackers.

Yes, math class turned into a snack-based laboratory.

We used goldfish to “balance equations.” If one side had 4 crackers, the other side had to match. If we added 2 more on one side, we had to add 2 more on the other. It was simple, hands-on, and most importantly—edible.

For the first time, math wasn’t just something Jackson had to get through. It actually made sense. It had a purpose. It connected to something he cared about.

And that’s the thing about learning: breakthroughs don’t happen when students are told something is important—they happen when students see why it matters.

Without that connection, learning can feel like a chore. It’s effort without purpose. But when students understand the “why,” everything changes. Engagement increases. Confidence builds. And suddenly, even math can become… well, at least tolerable.

At Tomorrow’s Talent, this belief drives everything we do. We create real-world, hands-on collaboration experiences between students and employers so learning isn’t just theoretical—it’s meaningful.

Students don’t just learn about business—they design logos for real companies. They don’t just talk about problem-solving—they help employers think through challenges that benefit from a fresh, youthful perspective. They don’t just hear about careers—they engage directly with professionals and apply their skills in authentic ways.

These experiences turn abstract concepts into something tangible. They answer the question every student is thinking: “When am I ever going to use this?”

And more importantly—they replace it with: “I can actually do this.”

Because whether it’s balancing equations with goldfish crackers or helping a business shape its brand, the outcome is the same: students begin to see themselves as capable, creative contributors to the real world.

And that’s where you come in.

If you’re an employer, educator, or community partner, there is an opportunity to be that “aha moment” for a student.

Invite students into your world.
Let them solve real problems.
Give them a chance to contribute, create, and connect their learning to something bigger.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one meaningful experience to change how a student sees math… school… and their future. And if we can do that—with goldfish crackers or real-world collaboration—we’re not just teaching skills.

We’re unlocking potential.