My Research
Master's Research
For my Master's research, I studied how to help parents guide their kids in math in a fun and easy way about the concepts of time, money and temperature.
I taught parents three workshops and showed them how to teach their kids problem solving step-by-step all through TALKING! Parents were able to let go of their math anxiety and their children became more confident in math!
Click for my Master's thesis, Parent Journeys Through Number Talks with their Children
University of Winnipeg and Toybox Manitoba
I work alongside Dr. Sheri Skwarchuk, the founder of the ToyBox project.
ToyBox Manitoba is a project that provides parents with FREE literacy, numeracy and wellness strategies to help prepare children ages 2 - 8 for life.
Research Publications:
Book Chapter:
Skwarchuk, S.L., Button, B., Wright, A., Lodwick, K., Melo, S., Connell, J.,
Vizina, Y., Young, M., Eades, G., Dalayoan, H., Guervarra, B., Lowe, S., Hayag, Z., Kiefer, B., Blatta, K., Shin, Y., Collins, M., Dalit, L., Black, C., Nenka, M., Lawrence, P., Mann, K., Tremorin, P., Betts, P., Reimer, K., Keeper-Garson, L., Young, K., Okrainec, A., Hellsten, L. A., Finlayson, L., Maloney, E. A., Kruse, N., Robinson, J., Kerr, J., Lavallee, L. & Douglas, H. (2024). Guiding caregivers to support their children’s early learning trajectories using TOYBOX numeracy, literacy and wellness strategies. In Youman, S. & Colgan, L. (Eds.) Beyond 1, 2, 3: Early Mathematics Education in Canada (pp. 283-300). Canadian Scholars: Toronto.
Article to be submitted for Publication:
Skwarchuk, S.L., Yu, S., Douglas, H., Bugden, S., Melo, S. Eades, G., Maloney, E. A., LeFevre,
J. A. (2025). Introducing the TOYBOX early intervention project: Supporting caregivers with literacy, numeracy and wellness activities for their 2-to-8-year-old children. Paper to be submitted to the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science.
Research Conference Presentations:
Shapiro, J., Black, C., Melo, S. & Skwarchuk, S.-L. (2024, June). From research to classroom:
The TOYBOX project. Paper presented at Assessment and Instruction in Mathematics conference in Ottawa.
Shapiro, J., Melo, S., Betts, P. & Skwarchuk, S. L. (2024, June). A review
of recently developed numeracy assessment, instruction and intervention resources from Canada. Paper presented at the Mathematics and Cognition Learning Society in Washington, D.C.
Maloney, E. A., Skwarchuk, S. L., Douglas, H., Bugden, S., Wright, A., Eades, G., Lodwick, K.,
Young, M., Collins, M., Melo, S., Betts, P., Button, L. G., Reimer, K. & LeFevre, J. A. (2023, June). Guiding caregivers to support their children’s early learning trajectories using TOYBOX numeracy, literacy and wellness strategies. Paper presented at the Mathematics and Cognition Learning Society in Loughborough, England.
Dalit, L., Young, M., Bear, T., Skwarchuk, K., Collins, M., Trémorin, P., Bugden, S., Melo, S. &
Skwarchuk, S. L. (2025, June). Learning ABCs and 123s through the TOYBOX Early Intervention Project. Paper to be presented at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education Conference in Toronto, Ontario.
McGunigal, M., Kjarsgaard, C., Melo, S., Collins, M., Young, M., Wright, A., Button, B,
Reimer, K. & Skwarchuk, S. L. (2025, June). Parents’ Perspectives on Implementing TOYBOX Home Learning and Wellness Activities. Paper to be presented at the Canadian Society for Studies in Education Conference in Toronto, Ontario.
Young, M., Skwarchuk, K., Skwarchuk, S. L., Betts, P., Trémorin, P., Zhang, C., Bugden, S. &
Melo, S. (2025, June). Using Child Assessment Data to Support the TOYBOX Early Intervention Program in Canada. Paper to be presented at the Mathematics and Cognition Learning Society in Hong Kong, China.
Collins, M., Young, M., Betts, P., Skwarchuk, S. L., Susperreguy, M., Bugden, S., Zhang, C.,
Melo, S., Wright, A., Button, B., Reimer K. (2025, June). Supporting Parents’ to Implement TOYBOX Home Numeracy Activities. Paper to be presented at the Mathematics and Cognition Learning Society in Hong Kong, China.
"This is just what our new graduates need! Thanks for providing a teacher friendly, research-based resource to guide them on their way!"
Sandy Margetts
Assistant Professor, Brandon University, Manitoba
"Sarah’s strategies are effective and easy to use. Even my students who struggle stay engaged while advanced students are challenged."
Sarah Bisson
Grade 6 Teacher, Winnipeg
"I never thought I’d be excited to teach math! Sarah’s passion is contagious, and her method works for all my students."
Chantal McQueen
Grade 3 Teacher, DSFM
"My teachers said it was the best PD they have attended in years! They learned the strategies to cater to the 20% of students in need."
Miranda Bowman
Principal, Flin Flon School Division, Manitoba
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