The Heart of Hattennoki: Our Story of Playful Learning
Hattennoki didn’t start in a boardroom; it started at our kitchen table. My work is built on the belief that learning is something you do, not just something you memorize.
My son Kai is my biggest inspiration and the first user of every game I create. This is us with Yonjuu, a game designed to build number sense and strategic thinking through play, making math accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
This is a step-by-step guide on how to play the basic version of my Yonjuu card game. I created this game with my son, Kai, to show that math can be a fun, strategic, and collaborative experience for the whole family.
This video captures the wonderful energy of an open house event. My son Kai is proudly demonstrating the games he helped inspire, showing visitors how fun and engaging learning can be.
This flyer for a pop-up stall features my son Kai, who was my co-facilitator for the day. It was a beautiful experience to watch him lead and share his love for learning with other children.
This video shares my journey with the Science of Reading, from my own professional development to creating the L2R R2L program. It features moments of reading with my son, which is the inspiration behind my mission to help all children.
Before starting a game, it's great practice to find "partners of 10." My son Kai demonstrates how to quickly group cards that add up to 10, a foundational skill for building math fluency and speed.
What if there are no easy partners of 10? Here, Kai explains a key strategy: making a 10 by borrowing from another card. This technique, known as bridging, is a powerful mental math strategy for addition.
This video captures a cherished memory of my son Kai learning to bake gingerbread cookies. It reminds me that learning is not just about academics; it's about patience, care, and the joy of creating something with your own hands.
The process of making something from scratch is a powerful lesson. Here, Kai is focused on kneading the dough, learning that effort and attention to detail are part of the reward.
Rolling out the dough with care. These simple, hands-on activities build focus and fine motor skills, but more importantly, they create lasting memories and a sense of accomplishment.
About The Heart of Hattennoki: My Story
When you look at our kits or workshops, you aren’t just buying a product; you are stepping into a method that values touch and emotion over rote memorization. Whether we are using Yonjuu cards to visualize numbers or Science of Reading phonics tools to make literacy feel tangible, our process is designed to turn frustration into genuine confidence.
The shift from high school teacher to founder of Hattennoki happened because I watched too many brilliant kids lose their confidence to rigid, test-heavy environments. I realized that if I wanted to help them, I had to change how we present ideas. My work is grounded in the Science of Reading and concrete math methodologies because I believe every child learns best when they can actually hold the concepts in their hands.
This approach isn't just for struggling learners; it is for every child who learns better through play than through lectures. My son Kai is my constant collaborator—he is the first user of every kit and game I develop. If a concept feels heavy or unclear, we go back to the drawing board until it feels light and intuitive.
Whether it’s the Yonjuu card game making integers feel approachable or our sensory-rich reading kits, the goal remains the same: we want to eliminate the fear of getting it wrong. I partner with parents and schools who understand that learning is a messy, slow, but deeply rewarding process. You won't find lectures here. You will find tools that invite kids to touch, question, and play with the material. This is how we build long-term thinkers, not just test-takers.
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