Our Story
Eighteen years ago, Alex Kajitani was a struggling math teacher in one of California’s poorest neighborhoods. His middle school students seemed unmotivated, unengaged and uninterested in the math he was teaching. Demoralized and desperate, he set out on a journey to turn his class, and his life, around.
In order to connect with his students, Alex began writing rap songs about the math he was teaching, and “The Rappin’ Mathematician” became an instant hit, and his students’ attitudes and test scores skyrocketed!
His songs, videos and online program are now being used in homes and classrooms around the world. It even landed him a spot on the CBS Evening News, where Katie Couric declared, “I LOVE That Guy!”
In 2009, Alex was named California Teacher of the Year and Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year, and began traveling the country speaking to teachers, parents and administrators. They told him, time and again, that their #1 math challenge was students not knowing their times tables. Teachers felt overwhelmed by the number of students who hadn’t learned them. Parents felt overwhelmed by not having enough time in their busy schedules to help.
Today, Alex is on a mission to help EVERY kid master their times tables, so they can be confident in math, and in life. He has seen firsthand, time and again, the difference between a confident student who shows up knowing their times tables, and the constant struggles for those who don’t. With Multiplication Nation, he’s created a solution that is engaging, effective, and affordable for any parent or school.
A leading authority in education, he is also the author of several books, including Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Teachers, and Owning It: Proven Strategies to Ace & Embrace Teaching, which was named “Recommended Reading” by the U.S. Department of Education. His TEDx Talk, “Making Math Cool,” has been viewed over 50,000 times.
Alex’s journey – from frustrated new teacher to being honored at The White House Rose Garden – is one he now shares with educators of all subjects and levels, to inspire them to new heights and fresh ways of thinking. To inquire about having Alex speak at your next conference or event, Contact Us, or visit www.AlexKajitani.com.