Building the Foundation for Mathematical Thinking

AbaQuest is an interactive early numeracy platform for students in Pre-K through 2nd grade. Instead of memorizing math facts, kids learn how numbers actually work — through storytelling, exploration, and hands-on interaction.

Originally developed through an Institute of Education Sciences (IES) SBIR research initiative

AbaQuest robot mascot

Understanding Over Memorization

Most early math tools drill facts. AbaQuest builds the thinking underneath the facts — so number sense sticks.

Number Sense

Children build an intuitive feel for quantity, magnitude, and how numbers relate to one another — the groundwork every later math skill depends on.

Visualization

Abstract numbers become concrete, visual, and manipulable, helping young learners see the math instead of just reciting it.

Flexible Thinking

Through storytelling and open-ended exploration, kids learn to approach problems from more than one direction — not just one memorized path.

Learning That Feels Like Play

  1. Storytelling Numbers are introduced inside narratives kids want to follow, not worksheets they want to finish.
  2. Exploration Open-ended interactions let children test ideas about quantity and pattern at their own pace.
  3. Hands-On Interaction Touch-and-manipulate activities connect physical actions to mathematical ideas, echoing the hands-on nature of an abacus.
AbaQuest app showing the Quest Library screen

Grounded in Research, Built for the Classroom

AbaQuest began as federally funded early-numeracy research rather than as a product — and that origin still shapes how it is built.

Dr. Ameerah Bello

Research & Design Lead

Has led AbaQuest’s research and design throughout the platform’s development.

  1. Research Origin

    Developed under a federally funded Small Business Innovation Research initiative through the Institute of Education Sciences.

  2. Research & Design

    Led by Dr. Ameerah Bello throughout the platform’s development.

  3. Into the Classroom

    Now advancing from research initiative toward commercialization for classroom use.

AbaQuest mascot

Bring AbaQuest Into Your Classroom

AbaQuest is moving from research to real classrooms. Reach out to learn more or request a demo.

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