At York Literacy Institute (YLI), the adult education program is more than just a classroom—it’s a space where confidence, curiosity, and personal growth take center stage. As part of the program, YLI offers classes focused on improving math skills. Guided by dedicated teachers Lori and Laura, the classes are designed to meet adult learners where they are and help them to reach their high school equivalency goals.

Lori, known for her passion and empathy, brings a hands-on approach to teaching math. Drawing from her own experiences as a student, she is especially skilled at helping students overcome anxiety around the subject. “That’s my strength. I’m good at lowering anxiety. Let’s take out the noise and look at it,” Lori explains. 

She breaks down complex concepts into manageable steps, telling students to take it to ‘one plus one.’ “Okay, you know that. Good—now, guess what x plus x is? Just build it like that.” For Lori, the goal is not just math proficiency, but building confidence and logical thinking: “To me, there’s only one real objective to math, and that is it teaches you how to logically think, how to look at your surroundings and how to look at what’s important.”

 Laura, who describes her teaching style as a bit chaotic and full of humor, also prioritizes her students’ well-being and self-assurance. “I like it because I get to work on the whole person,” she says. “I don’t just teach content knowledge. Here’s the content, but also here are test-taking tips, and you need to relax—you can only do what you can do.” Laura’s classroom is lively and supportive, with jokes and real-life analogies making math less intimidating. For Laura, building student confidence is key: “It’s one hundred percent more about confidence than content knowledge. I just believe in them until they finally believe in themselves.”

Both teachers are inspired by the determination and resilience of their adult learners. “These are people who want to make their lives better,” Lori says, appreciating the unique motivation adult students bring. 

Laura echoes this pride: “I think they’re absolute rock stars. They work all day, get done with work, and then come to class. That’s so incredible.”

With teachers like Lori and Laura, YLI’s math program offers a supportive environment where adult learners can conquer their fears, embrace their strengths, and rediscover their belief in what’s possible.