Add It Up is a non-profit that offers free math tutoring in Fullerton. Currently working with Raymond Elementary and OC United, Add It Up is a free tutoring program! They tutor all kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. The operation is entirely run by high schoolers, led by Zayne Shah, a senior at Sunny Hills High School. They are committed to providing help to kids, especially kids who might not have access to tutoring services.

I spent some time talking to Zayne, a very inspiring high schooler, on a recent afternoon. Here are some excerpts from the conversation.

Motivation to Start: “While serving as the President of the Algebra Center at my school, I noticed many students struggle with basic areas of math, like multiplication or even using a calculator for double-digit addition. This inspired me to start Add It Up to help kids learn the basics so that when they get to high school, they don’t struggle as much.”

Starting the Program: “To get the program off the ground, we needed permission to use Raymond Elementary. Aaruni Thakur, a member of the school board, helped us with contacts in the district to arrange the time and place.”

Dates and Hours: “We have two sessions at Raymond Elementary on Mondays and Fridays from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. We also have morning sessions on Fridays from 11:00 AM to noon at the Gilbert Community Center.”

Sign-Up Process: “Parents can bring their children to these locations—no sign-up is required beforehand. We take a diagnostic test to understand where they need help.”

Outreach: “We are doing outreach by distributing flyers and contacting other organizations, like the Boys and Girls Club.”

Long-Term Plans: “We plan to run the program through the school year. After I leave for college, my younger sister, Zara Shah, will continue to run the program.”

About Zayne Shah: Zayne is a Sunny Hills High School senior who enjoys math, playing and watching sports, and reading.

Focus Areas: “We focus on basic math skills such as multiplication and addition. Once the students have mastered the basics, we move on to long division, fractions, and decimals.”

High School Volunteers: “We currently have several high schoolers involved. Interested volunteers can find a form on our Instagram page.”

If your kids need help with math, contact Add It Up at additupoc@gmail.com!

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