More Than Math: How Consistent Tutoring Helps Students Find Their Confidence

When students struggle with math, it can affect more than their grades. They may hesitate to raise their hands, worry about getting the answer wrong, or begin to believe they simply aren't good at math.

At F.D. Moon Middle School, fifth-grade math teacher Talia Jones sees how that uncertainty can affect students in the classroom. She also sees what can happen when students have consistent support, opportunities to practice, and people who believe in their ability to succeed.

Through our partnership with F.D. Moon, Freedom City provides small-group math tutoring that reinforces classroom instruction, addresses gaps in learning, and helps students build the confidence to tackle new challenges.

And according to Talia, the difference is showing.

When students begin to believe in themselves

“Overall low confidence” is how Talia describes what she sees among students when it comes to math and academics.

For some students, the challenge isn't simply understanding a math concept. It's feeling comfortable enough to ask a question, try a different approach, or keep going when a problem feels difficult.

Freedom City's tutoring gives students additional time and individualized attention to work through those challenges. Tutors use assessment data to identify skills that need reinforcement, then build individualized learning plans using tools such as IXL, worksheets, and math-fact games.

The goal is to help students strengthen their math skills while giving them opportunities to practice, ask questions, and experience success.

For Talia, the changes go beyond academics.

“The biggest changes are in their engagement and mindset,” she shared. “Students are coming to class actively participating, their test scores are rising, and classroom anxiety is being replaced by genuine excitement for learning.”

That shift matters. When students feel more confident, they're better positioned to participate in class, seek help when they need it, and approach new challenges with a willingness to try.

Small-group tutoring, measurable progress

During the 2025–26 school year, Freedom City served 20 students in grades 5th through 7th at F.D. Moon Middle School through weekly, one-hour tutoring sessions over 22 weeks.

The school used NWEA MAP assessment data to help identify learning needs and measure progress. Freedom City used that information to develop individualized IXL Skills Plans targeting specific math concepts.

The results showed encouraging progress. Teachers reported that NWEA scores improved significantly for most participating students. Some students gained more than 30 points, while others showed smaller gains or scores that remained steady.

Talia also saw meaningful results among students who attended consistently the previous school year. She reported that a couple of her students increased their end-of-year test scores by 15–20 points.

These results reflect what can happen when students have additional opportunities to practice the skills they're learning in class. Progress looks different for every student, but targeted support gives students more chances to strengthen foundational skills and work toward their individual goals.

And students noticed changes in themselves, too.

In end-of-program surveys, F.D. Moon Middle School students reported feeling more confident raising their hands to ask for help when they didn't understand a math problem. They also said they were completing homework and feeling more prepared for tests.

Those may sound like small changes, but they can make a real difference in how a student experiences the school day.

A partnership that supports teachers and families

Freedom City's tutoring program is designed to complement the work teachers already do. Not replace it.

“Freedom City's program reinforces exactly what we teach in class and fills in the necessary gaps of learning,” Talia explained.

That coordination matters. Teachers are working to meet the needs of an entire classroom, and additional small-group support gives participating students more time to practice targeted skills. It also helps reinforce what students are learning during regular instruction.

Talia describes the partnership as a reliable, high-quality support system that the school and families can depend on each week.

For families, that means their children have access to additional academic support and caring adults who encourage them to keep trying. For teachers, it means having a community partner who works alongside them toward shared goals. And for students, it means more opportunities to build skills and discover what they're capable of achieving.

As Talia puts it, the partnership brings trusted community mentors into the school's hallways and helps students recognize their own potential.

Students don't lack potential. They need opportunity.

When asked what she wishes more people understood about the students she serves, Talia offered a reminder worth carrying beyond the classroom:

“Our students don’t lack capability or ambition; they just need consistency and opportunity. When you give them a safe, supportive space and people who believe in them, they can match and exceed any standard set for them.”

At Freedom City, we believe that, too.

That's why we work alongside schools, students, and families through In-School Tutoring, After-School, and Summer Programs, with mentoring and encouragement woven throughout our work. Each program looks a little different, but the goal remains the same: to help young people strengthen their skills, grow in confidence, and recognize their potential.

F.D. Moon Middle School's progress is one example of what consistent support can make possible. Across Freedom City's 2025–26 tutoring sites, we served more than 80 students, providing small-group, individualized instruction and caring relationships that helped students work toward academic growth while building confidence in their ability to learn.

Help us keep showing up

Behind every tutoring session is a student working through a challenging problem, a teacher looking for ways to help, and a family hoping their child will have the support they need to succeed.

That support depends on people who believe in the work and want it to continue.

That's why we're launching Freedom City Champions, our monthly giving community. Champions help provide dependable support for Freedom City's work throughout the year, so we can keep showing up for students and families across our programs.

If you believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel confident in what they can achieve, we invite you to become a Freedom City Champion. Monthly gifts of $10, $25, $50, or $100 help sustain our work and give us flexibility to respond to students' and families' needs.

Become a Freedom City Champion

Because when students have consistent support, they don't just strengthen their academic skills. They begin to see what they're capable of and what might be possible next.