At Vacaville's Callison Elementary, math is an adventure

The third grader clutches her laptop and lifts it up to teacher Sarah Houston at the back of her Callison Elementary School classroom. She's wearing the unmistakable expression of a young mathematician in a state of confusion.

"We can't figure this out because we haven't learned this," she protests, pointing to a problem on the screen. "What does the parentheses mean?"

Her teacher smiles and leans in.

"You have learned this," she assures her, walking her through the problem step by step and reminding her that anything inside the parentheses comes first before solving the rest of the equation.

It all sounds suspiciously like algebra.

But inside Houston's Vacaville classroom, algebra is not a scary word hidden deep inside a textbook. It is part of a colorful digital world where cartoon pets battle, wizards level up, and students race through math challenges without realizing just how advanced their learning has become.

That enthusiasm has propelled Callison to the top of the state.

This year, the school's 10 classrooms fully integrated with the Prodigy Math program captured the statewide championship in the educational game-based learning competition. Now the school is competing nationally, with a $100,000 technology grant on the line.

"Every question they are answering correctly right now counts toward the total," Houston explained.

Prodigy Math is an online platform that transforms traditional math drills into an interactive adventure game. Students create characters, unlock worlds, earn rewards, and challenge classmates in math-powered battles - all while practicing academic skills aligned to classroom instruction.

"It's really taken off, and all of the kids are energized and self-motivated," said Callison Principal Kacie Ramos. "It's building their stamina to learn, and it's fun - they are learning, and they do not even know it."

Houston, a third-grade teacher and lead teacher for the Prodigy program at Callison, said the platform functions as both a game and an instructional intervention tool.

"As a teacher, I can put in whatever skills kids need to work on and set up the types of problems they need to work on," she explained. "So when they play, the math problems they get are honing those skills."

Inside the game, students choose characters and pets, building energy and powers as they answer questions correctly. They can challenge classmates in battles or spend time on "game island," practicing independently to strengthen their abilities.

The game is organized into "worlds," with each completed level unlocking the next.

"It's motivating them, and it's helpful to test their skills," Houston said. "Some may be doing advanced questions or working at level, and for those who are struggling, it gives them more time to work on the stuff they need to."

Houston first discovered the program during a Zoom workshop several years ago.

"I looked at it and said, ‘Yes, we need to do this,'" she recalled.

The excitement is easy to spot inside her classroom.

"I like that I can battle other pets and I'm one of the highest levels in the class," said 8-year-old Jayden Lei. "I'm learning, but it's more fun."

And the learning extends far beyond basic arithmetic.

Students tackle addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but also geometry, rounding, and early algebraic thinking - concepts that might once have seemed out of reach for elementary students.

"They are learning tricks we didn't have at that age," Houston said with a laugh. "It's algebra, and they don't even know it. If you show them the book that says ‘algebra' on the front, they start to freak out. But then you show them an algebra problem, and they say, ‘Oh, I know how to do that!'"

Next door in fellow third-grade teacher Allegra Johnson's classroom, the competitive spirit is equally strong.

"I love it because you can do math and get smart," said 9-year-old Nevaeh Lopez.

"It's super fun, and you learn a lot of stuff," added Tyler Savercool, also 9.

"Prodigy helps with learning," agreed Vincent DeFrietas-Lavrar.

Nearby, student Frankie Tiscareno eagerly demonstrated the game mechanics on his laptop.

"OK, so since I just beat the boss of this level, I'm in hard mode," he explained, clicking through the adventures of his wizard character. "You start out with questions, and they get harder and harder."

Each correct answer triggered an animated celebration on the screen - a smiling cartoon bear, sparkling stars, and the word "Correct!"

"It keeps your brain active," Tiscareno said, crediting Johnson for setting up the assignments students face. "It's better than just regular homework because, you know, with math it can get kind of boring, but this doesn't."

Johnson said the statewide title has only intensified student motivation.

"The kids are a lot more engaged," she said, smiling. "I tell them, ‘It's all for the glory and honor of Callison!'"

But it's about so much more. Somewhere between battling digital pets and conquering game worlds, they are becoming confident mathematicians.

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 8:07 PM.