What's the first key to a child's willingness to learn?

Two male siblings started attending my class. Perhaps because they were brothers, managing them was not easy. They couldn’t sit still; they would fight with each other or break things in my house—in the beginning, I truly had no idea how to handle them. Initially, conducting a math class seemed nearly impossible. I pondered how to persuade children who appeared to have no intention of learning. Then I decided that before teaching them math, I should try to love them just as they are.

Even if I can’t love these children as if they were my own, I can certainly embrace and care for them as souls in need. I prepared small gifts before the children arrived and avoided forcing the lessons. As their hearts gradually opened up, my voice began to reach them.

One day, I pulled aside one of the two kids and started a conversation. “If you don’t want to attend class, that’s okay. But I hope you come to love math and develop your skills to the point where you no longer need a teacher. It’s fine if you leave now, but I’d be even happier if you eventually become so capable that you no longer need my teaching.”

The child listened to my words and expressed a desire to continue my lessons. Now, after half a year, these kids are so focused—even during online classes—that they are scoring nearly perfect marks in math. They have become my best students. Although I am a math teacher, I’ve come to realize that no subject, including math, is more important than love. When you teach with love and patience, it always bears the right kind of fruit.

I hope that our LoveMathStudio will become not just an academy that teaches math, but a place that plants dreams in children through love and patience.