GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — JJ Scott is a regular 5-year-old with an extraordinary passion for numbers. While most children his age are focused on cartoons or playing outside, JJ is spending his free time solving multiplication problems and working with his favorite toy— Number Blocks.
It all started last summer when JJ’s grandmother Kathy Scott, an educational para-professional with Fremont Public Schools, bought him a set of Number Blocks. What Kathy thought would simply help her grandson prepare for kindergarten turned into a full-blown love for math.
“I never expected anything this big,” Kathy admitted while reflecting on how the blocks, which are designed to teach early math concepts, sparked a remarkable transformation in JJ. “We use them in school, and I figured it would be easy for him to start with simple addition and subtraction, but it turned into something much more.”
JJ’s parents were equally amazed by the speed at which their son’s mathematical abilities took off.
“It’s exciting to watch him. He’s just in his zone completely. It’s all he thinks about,” said JJ’s Mother, Taylor Scott, speaking with pride about his son’s newfound passion.
JJ’s love for math isn’t just about toys and games—it extends to his favorite television show, Numberblocks. This animated series takes young viewers on a step-by-step journey through math, breaking down concepts into five color-coded levels that make learning both fun and easy to grasp. As JJ continues to watch the show, he’s absorbing more and more math concepts, strengthening his skills at an accelerated rate.
Despite being only 5 years old, JJ is already diving into more complex math, including multiplication and times tables. “He just exploded after discovering Number Blocks,” his mother recalls, expressing awe at how quickly JJ has advanced.
Recently, JJ underwent testing to assess his academic abilities. The results were nothing short of extraordinary. The evaluator, clearly impressed, told JJ’s parents that their son scored in the 99th percentile in math—a remarkable achievement for a child of his age.
“The man who tested him was completely blown away,” said JJ’s father. “He’s in the 99th percentile for math, which is extremely high for someone his age. It’s amazing to see.”
As JJ continues to grow and develop his love for math, his parents and teachers are excited to see where this passion will take him. With a strong foundation built on Number Blocks and the support of his family, JJ is on a path to continue excelling in math.