Meet Malacai, 5-year-old Math Prodigy

by Curlan Campbell

• Malacai recites squared numbers from 1 to 100 and multiplication tables flawlessly
• School uses various strategies to support gifted students
• Raised in a bilingual household, Malacai speaks Spanish fluently

To put Malacai’s ability into context, an average 5-year-old should be capable of mentally performing simple addition and subtraction calculations up to 10 by age 6, but Malacai is already mastering multiplication.

His mother, Fayola, whose background is in linguistics and performing arts, began introducing her son to numbers at 18 months. By the age of 2, he had developed a love for counting, and memorised multiplication tables after Fayola purchased a multiplication chart from a local store. “When I saw him waking up every morning just to read through his times tables one by one, I realised this was definitely not typical,” Fayola said.

During demonstrations of his math abilities, Malacai can be seen twitching his fingers and drawing abstract symbols on his tablet, forming patterns only he understands before providing the correct answer. He can recite squared numbers from 1 to 100 and recites multiplication tables flawlessly. He even excels beyond what is expected, completing extensive timetable tests set by his parents.

“Each number had its sign — signs he made for himself — and over time, I began to understand what each meant,” Fayola explained. “I still see him doing this, though he uses words more now. But certainly, I still notice him moving his fingers quickly, doing something in his mind.”

Nigel Edwards, a former teacher now working in the Public Health Department at St George’s University (SGU), is delighted that his dream of having a child interested in physics and math has come true. “From an early age, I noticed he was picking up on patterns and showing a curiosity for exploration.” He attributes Malacai’s curiosity to their non-conventional approach to parenting, which included fostering an appreciation of nature, and shared that “Growing up surrounded by nature may have influenced his adventurous spirit and interest in numbers. I always wanted my kids to appreciate nature, and I believe those early walks helped spark his curiosity.”

Malacai’s talents extend beyond math. Raised in a bilingual household, he speaks Spanish fluently, as both of his parents are fluent in the language. “We spoke Spanish to him from birth, so it became his first language,” his mother said.

However, Malacai’s focus on math presents challenges. His parents have struggled to redirect his attention to other subjects. “He loves math, but it’s sometimes difficult to pull him away from it,” she said. “Even at 2 years old, all he wanted to do was play with numbers. Getting him to read is more challenging than getting him to engage with math.”

His kindergarten teacher Devony Telesford also finds it difficult to keep up with Malacai’s rapid progress. “One of the challenges is finding materials and activities that match his advanced level,” Telesford explained. “I have to constantly plan new things to keep him engaged because he finishes the standard activities so quickly.”

Despite considering advancing him to a higher grade, Malacai’s parents have decided against it for now, prioritising his social development. “We discussed skipping him ahead but realised he also needs to develop social skills, like conflict resolution and sharing with peers,” Nigel said. “While we want him to excel, we also want him to be well-rounded, so we’ve decided to keep him with his age group.”

St Michael’s Roman Catholic Infant School, located in Woburn, St George, has been working to accommodate Malacai’s unique needs. Acting Principal Roselyn Babb explained that the school uses various strategies to support gifted students, including customising the curriculum and providing personalised learning plans. “We aim to create a nurturing environment that promotes curiosity and exploration,” Babb said. “We work closely with parents to support students’ development both inside and outside the classroom.”

However, Malacai’s parents feel that the current system isn’t fully equipped to handle a child like Malacai, who is excelling at a significantly higher level. “We’re navigating uncharted territory and learning as we go,” Fayola said. “We’re hoping to connect with someone who has experience in raising a gifted child. If anyone has any knowledge or resources, we would greatly appreciate it.”

Fayola has also looked into Mensa but is unsure how to proceed with the required testing. “They said our child would need to undergo tests with a psychologist, but we don’t know where to find someone who can do that here in Grenada. Any guidance would be appreciated.”

Both parents are excited about Malacai’s future, with his father hoping he will pursue a career in aerospace engineering or astrophysics. To better understand his cognitive abilities, Malacai will need to undergo an evaluation using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, which assesses a child’s performance in 5 cognitive domains.