The reason Wanta became able to do math just like the other kids in class is because he met that teacher.

If there is one thing you absolutely must master in elementary school math, it is the multiplication table.
And that is even though he had only just become a second grader.
Surprisingly, it seems God granted Wanta an average ability to memorize things, so he was able to get through reciting the multiplication table. But there were other reasons as well.

Wanta's second-grade homeroom teacher was a truly wonderful person. She was the teacher who changed Wanta's life.
The lag in math that had persisted since first grade remained unresolved, and his math test scores continued to be below average. Every day after school, the teacher made Wanta and one other boy from the class stay behind to solve math problems in their notebooks.

Wanta would get the calculations wrong, his head would always feel hot, and he would want to cry. The teacher would have him redo the problems he got wrong over and over again, explaining them to him until he got the answers right. Wanta's math notebook was filled with many pink 'X' marks. Because he erased his wrong answers so many times, the paper became dented and blackened.

I cannot remember how long he stayed behind to study with the teacher, but I think it was for quite a long time. The results gradually began to show, and I believe the after-school study sessions ended once he was able to do calculations as well as everyone else.

I think it was around the time these after-school study sessions ended that he started learning the multiplication table. I believe the lessons began with the teacher explaining that the multiplication table is useful, and they started with the 5s. Wanta thought at the time that it was wonderful that the numbers increased by skipping 5 and that he didn't have to do addition.

Once the multiplication table lessons began, for every set he learned, he had to take a recitation test one-on-one in front of the teacher. If he could say it fluently without mistakes, he would pass. It was promised that if he passed, he would receive a sunflower petal sticker to put on his multiplication card. (When you memorize the whole table, a beautiful sunflower blooms.)

Rather than the importance of the multiplication table, Wanta diligently practiced reciting it at home every day to make his sunflower bloom, preparing for the tests. Also, being able to say the multiplication phrases made him feel like a cool upperclassman, unlike when he was in first grade.
For Wanta, reciting the multiplication table was the first time since starting elementary school that he was able to keep up with his classmates in his studies.

If it hadn't been for those after-school study sessions with the teacher, I don't think Wanta would have understood or memorized the multiplication table, and he would have hated math and never grown to like it. I don't think he would have even been able to go to high school. (Wanta's parents agree with this.) I still think today that Wanta was a lucky person to have been that teacher's student. I have nothing but gratitude for her.

Wanta sincerely hopes that children will meet wonderful teachers. Adults, please do not label children as 'no good' or 'incapable' just because they cannot do something right now. Wanta believes that all children have potential and are beings that can evolve wonderfully at any time.

Thank you for reading this far.