First Grader & Abacus Math Student Gets Into Somerset, NJ’s Gifted and Talented Program

When Sophia transferred to a STEM school, Eugene and Shanoye wanted to give her a good head start in math and science. Now, just a few months after joining Genie Academy, Sophia got accepted into the Gifted and Talented Program. Her parents share how the abacus math program sparked her love for learning and helped her advance in a high-caliber school.

6-year-old Sophia is brimming with potential. She’s been a consistent honor roll student and has been reading 2 levels above her grade since kindergarten. But Sophia and her parents needed to raise the bar, especially in math, when she transferred to a STEM school. They wanted Sophia to advance in class because she has the mental capability, but there are many kids in her school who are already performing above grade level. “I think she’s above par with kids her age, but there are really bright kids in her class, so we wanted her to be on that level or higher,” Eugene shares. They also wanted to improve her focus and spark her love for learning so she could become a better student. 

For Shanoye and Eugene, after-school reinforcement is essential to reach these goals. This motivated them to enroll Sophia in the Abacus math program. “Tutoring is always beneficial whether your child is struggling or doing well. We also wanted to make education fun and make learning a lifestyle. Having the abacus program as an extracurricular activity has been extremely beneficial and she took it." 

Eugene adds that Sophia loves playing with the abacus. "In her mind, it’s a fun new game she can use to solve math problems. Implementing the abacus into her education has been awesome.”

Four months after enrolling in Genie Academy, Sophia reached a new milestone in her academic career. At 6 years old, she got accepted into Somerset NJ’s Gifted and Talented Program. Her math skills have also become more fluent, according to Shanoye. She can now do calculations much faster and is already doing double-digit mental math. Most importantly, Sophia enjoys learning, which has been her parents’ main goal ever since. 

“She loves learning and socializing in the center. She’s always done a great job in school but once she enrolled here in math, it propelled her further. She’s now more advanced than the other kids in her class and she enjoys learning overall,” Shanoye shares. 

Her Genie Academy teacher, Coach Sahar, also sees remarkable potential in Sophia. "Having Sophia in class is a delight, she's full of ambition and curiosity that allows her to quickly grasp new concepts with a lively spirit. She's always prepared and  excited to learn, it's clear she has undeniable potential and by nurturing this early on, I can confidently say Sophia possesses the potential for something remarkable in her future, she shares.

“Having Genie Academy works as a propeller for her mathematical career. It's working out well because while she’s studying in school, she’s also learning at Genie Academy. Those two things combined made testing easier,” shares Eugene. “We know that math is a core subject so we wanted her to be well-versed in that area.” 

They also shared that their experiences with Genie Academy have all been positive. They receive valuable feedback from Sophia’s instructor, Coach Sahar, and Sophia has been picking up on her assignments easily. “Just overall positive. Very pleasant staff and they work well with Sophia. I just love the fact that they keep her interested,” says Shanoye. 

Long-term, Sophia’s parents wish for her to graduate high school with an associate's degree in Computer Science, which is currently offered in her school. That way, she can go into whatever four-year college she wants. “It’s a full life plan,” says Eugene. 

With Sophia’s love for learning, we have no doubt she’ll scale new and higher peaks in the future. Until she bags that degree, we’d love to be a part of her remarkable journey!