Building Math Literacy Confidence for Early Multilingual Learners: An Inclusive EdTech Solution

English Language Learner (ELL) students significantly underperform academically compared to their English-proficient peers. Interventions that address literacy and math in the early elementary grades have been shown to prevent this academic discrepancy. Shoonya Kids is an award-winning iOS app that uses game-based modules to teach foundational language skills to ELL children ages 3-8. Built specifically for this population Shoonya features playful activities and culturally diverse characters to build early literacy in multiple languages. Shoonya is used at home and in the classroom within 11 California school districts, with 4,000+ licenses sold for Pre-K to 2nd grade classrooms. In Phase IB, we will expand this ELL specific educational technology to include a math curriculum that bridges math concepts to real world experiences. These new math activities will be developed alongside Math Curriculum Expert Melissa Morgenlander, PhD. and tested for usability, feasibility, and efficacy in ELL classrooms with our research partner WestEd. The modules will also be created for use on both iOS and Android devices to ensure equitable access for all students. This new component will enhance Shoonya Kids' ability to offer inclusive, high-quality education for multilingual learners, empowering them to succeed while engaging with content in English and Spanish.