our story
About MathHacked: A Story of Discovery
MathHacked was born from a mother’s love and a moment of transformation. As a homeschool mom of four, Heather Linchenko had always pushed through the struggles of teaching math—until one pivotal day changed everything.
The Breakthrough Moment
It was the times tables that brought everything to a halt. While teaching her youngest daughter Natalia, Heather witnessed something that shook her to her core: her ten-year-old daughter’s complete emotional shutdown as she struggled with memorization. In that moment, seeing her child’s broken spirit, Heather made a decision that would transform both their lives: “No more math until I figure this out.” If Natalia never learned another math concept, Heather decided, it would be better than crushing her spirit. What happened next was unexpected. Heather assumed that finding a gentler way to teach times tables would be just the first step in a long journey of having to reinvent math instruction for Natalia. Instead, something remarkable occurred. Once Natalia mastered her times tables through this new, kinder approach, she took off on her own. Without any further help from mom, she independently worked through her math lessons. Most surprisingly of all, math became her favorite subject in high school—a transformation that began with that single breakthrough in times tables.
Natalia Linchenko
A Transformation That Sparked a Movement
The results were remarkable. Natalia, who had struggled the most with math, not only mastered her times tables but went on to discover a genuine love for mathematics. What started as a solution for one child has grown into a revolutionary approach that has helped families across the country replace math anxiety with joy and confidence.
Our Mission
At MathHacked, we transform the way families experience mathematics. Our mission is to help every child feel smart and capable while positioning mom as their hero rather than their taskmaster. Through our revolutionary approach to times tables, we eliminate resistance, empower children to tackle math independently, and save countless hours of frustration for both parents and kids. We believe that math education should sweeten family relationships, not strain them. When children discover their mathematical confidence, and parents find joy in supporting their success, everyone wins.
Meet the Sisters Behind MathHacked
Heather Linchenko
At her core, Heather’s mission has always been to help parents build stronger relationships with their children throughout the journey of raising and teaching them. MathHacked emerged as a natural extension of this passion, addressing one of the most common sources of tension between parents and children: mathematics education. Through her work alongside Stephen R. Covey, helping to type and edit the best-selling book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Heather gained valuable insights into effective relationships and personal development. She recognized that math instruction often creates unnecessary wedges between parents and children, not only damaging their relationship but also eroding children’s self-confidence.
Her diverse experiences—from serving a mission in France to marrying a native Russian—have shaped her unique perspective on education and human connection. As the author of “I Meant Well and Other Words that Destroy Relationships” and “Mom! You’re Working Too Hard,” Heather continues to focus on transforming challenging educational moments into opportunities for relationship building and personal growth.
Shirley Smith
Having witnessed friends and family members grow up feeling “dumb” because of math struggles, Shirley brings a deep personal understanding to the MathHacked mission. As a former homeschool mother herself, she intimately knows the challenges that math can present in the homeschooling journey. Since joining forces with Heather in 2018, Shirley has been thrilled to witness family after family experience the same transformation that Natalia did years ago. “Every success story we receive reinforces why we do this,” Shirley shares. “Watching children and parents discover that math doesn’t have to be a source of pain and frustration—that’s what drives us forward.” Her passion for bringing this gentle, effective approach to mathematics has helped countless families break free from traditional math struggles and discover a new way of learning.
