In this month’s Learning Series, we’re excited to share new insights from our latest research with families; explore what AI could mean for math learning and family engagement; and invite you to help shape the future of AI-driven FASTalk. Whether you’re testing our newest tools, joining us at upcoming events, or simply staying curious alongside us, we’re grateful to be on this journey with you.
Let's keep learning together,
Vidya Sundaram and Elisabeth O'Bryon
Family Engagement Lab Co-Founders
What we're learning
What keeps families coming back to FASTalk?
We recently set out to answer that question, using parent feedback to guide the next evolution of our AI-driven platform.
Through surveys of 157 parents of K-2 students, including both English and Spanish-speaking families, we explored how different ways of presenting math skills and types of reminder messages might shape parents’ motivation to engage with the tool.
Emerging patterns in the data offer useful guidance for future improvements:
Parents were more motivated when math skills were linked to trusted sources, like their child’s teacher or recent assessment results.
The most promising nudges included teacher feedback or a preview of an upcoming at-home activity - messages that felt both personal and practical.
These insights are helping us refine how we connect with families, ensuring that AI-driven FASTalk is as engaging, supportive, and relevant as possible.
What we're reading
AI in Math Education
Two recent surveys reveal compelling alignment between what K-12 leaders envision for AI in math instruction and what teachers actually need in their classrooms.
Where Educators Are Aligned Both teachers and school leaders identify AI as a powerful tool to support differentiated instruction. While 94% of math teachers say effective differentiation is essential, many still lack effective tools to tailor support to individual students. Meanwhile, 69% of leaders believe AI can improve math instruction, and 64% are specifically looking for tools that help identify students who are struggling. Across the board, student motivation and engagement are top priorities: teachers want tools that drive real improvement, and leaders are excited about AI’s potential to create more dynamic, personalized lessons.
The Big Opportunity: Real-World Relevance One of AI’s most promising applications lies in making math feel more relevant to students’ lives. Imagine AI tools that personalize math problems based on a student’s environment: using farming scenarios in rural districts or local landmarks in urban ones. This kind of real-world context could make math more engaging for students and more accessible for families, helping to bridge opportunity gaps and deepen learning at home.
What This Means for Family Engagement
These findings underscore the critical role families can play in making math learning more meaningful - and how AI can strengthen the connection between school and home.
Context drives connection. When math reflects students’ real lives, families have a greater opportunity to engage. AI can personalize learning experiences based on local and cultural context, helping parents see and support math in everyday situations.
AI can expand access. Families don’t need to be math experts to support their children. With the right tools, AI can simplify complex concepts and offer step-by-step guidance, equipping more families with the tools needed to support math learning, especially those in under-resourced communities.
Families are a pillar of differentiated learning. Providing families with timely, actionable insights extends personalized learning beyond the classroom, reinforcing key skills and supporting student growth across home and school contexts.
At Family Engagement Lab, we're exploring these ideas as we continue developing tools that use AI to support math learning at home - tools that work with families, not just for them.
What we're sharing
Be Part of the Future of FASTalk
We’re continuing to recruit participants to test our new AI-driven FASTalk prototype — a tool built in direct response to what teachers and families told us they need most!
🌟 Get free, early access!
Open to K–8 teachers and families in Title 1 schools
Quick setup and easy onboarding
Help shape the final design of the tool with your feedback
📍 Philadelphia – Catalyst Innovation Summit at Penn, June 6 Elisabeth will be attending Penn GSE’s Catalyst Innovation Summit next week to explore how research can drive real-world impact in edtech. We’re excited to learn and bring new insights back to our work!
📍 Chicago – NCTM/NCTE Joint Conference, June 16-18 We're thrilled to be presenting at the 2025 Joint Conference for Elementary Literacy and Mathematics in Chicago! Join us for our session:
In this session, we'll explore strategies to engage families as active partners in math education, sharing insights from our latest research and practical tools for educators.
Family Engagement Lab, 548 Market Street, #42210, San Francisco, CA 94104
