Kendra Jacobs, MA ‘16, has found a unique way to blend her passion for mathematics with her belief in fostering a community-oriented classroom. An experienced teacher and founder of Mathematizing 24/7, Jacobs’s approach to teaching math goes beyond numbers—it’s about building relationships, encouraging critical thinking, and empowering students to see the relevance of math in their everyday lives.
“Many students have a negative relationship with math,” says Jacobs. “I didn’t have a positive relationship with math when I was in school, and in the first role I had where I had to teach math, I was nervous. But then the nerves turned to curiosity, and I wanted to find out how do educators teach math? How can we make it fun and engaging for kids? I didn’t want the kids in my class to be as afraid of math as I was.”
This exploration became the inspiration for Jacobs’s master’s thesis, where she researched how teachers develop their own growth mindsets around math. This experience helped to shape Jacobs’s approach to teaching math, and over the years, her approach has continued to evolve.
Her desire to share her passion for math and teaching led her to launch Mathematizing 24/7. The idea for the platform emerged while instructing in the Bachelor of Education program. For the last several years, Jacobs has taught the numeracy portion of Block 2, and found the teacher candidates would frequently ask where they could find more information and resources. Initially, it started as an Instagram channel for the candidates, but Jacobs quickly realized that there was a strong interest in her insights and expertise.
Mathematizing 24/7 took an unexpected turn when Jacobs attended a Startup Weekend event through Accelerate Okanagan. “At first, I was nervous. I didn’t think of myself as a businessperson, I didn’t even know what a pitch consisted of, and the idea of pitching my project in front of a room full of strangers was daunting,” she admits. “But I was encouraged to take the risk, and in the end, my pitch was selected, and our team ended up winning the competition.”
With the help of her team, Jacobs built the first iteration of the Mathematizing 24/7 website and began refining her business model. “It was an incredible experience,” she says. “I had no idea what I was doing at first, but the team I worked with was so supportive. They helped me understand the nuts and bolts of starting a business, from website development to marketing strategies.”
Through Mathematizing 24/7, she offers a variety of tools, resources, and strategies to help other educators create inclusive and engaging math classrooms. From curriculum materials to classroom activities, while the business side of things was new to her, the goal has always the same: to break down barriers and build confidence in students’ mathematical abilities.
“What I realized through this experience is that math can be transformative, not just for students but also for educators who are eager to grow and learn,” she says. “Through Mathematizing 24/7, I have been able to create a space where teachers can feel empowered to try new strategies and connect with a community of like-minded educators.”
One of Jacobs’s favourite strategies to share is called “thinking from the heart.” In this activity, students are encouraged to communicate their thoughts without the pressure of raising their hands. Instead, they use a silent thumbs-up signal to indicate they have something to share. “When students raise their hands, it often signals to others that the thinking is done, and they stop processing,” she explains. “But by teaching students to think from the heart, we create a culture where everyone continues to think, and no one feels rushed.”
This approach not only fosters deeper individual engagement but also builds a sense of community and mutual respect. “I teach my students that math is about more than just solving problems—it’s about caring for one another’s thinking,” Jacobs says. “When students share their thoughts without interruption, they feel valued, and the class becomes a space where everyone is encouraged to contribute their unique perspectives.”
The strategy of thinking from the heart goes hand in hand with Jacobs’s broader educational philosophy. “Math is a tool that helps us understand the world, but it also teaches us important life skills like patience, empathy, and perseverance,” she reflects. “That’s why I love teaching math—it’s not just about formulas; it’s about helping students develop skills that will serve them in all aspects of life.”