California schools need to be placed on the competitive map with regard to academic math gains in both the elementary and middle school levels. This is undoubtedly a challenge for most educators. When it comes to teaching math, many teachers make a tremendous effort to bring their struggling students up to a proficient level that is comparable with their peers in the classroom. How can elementary and middle school math teachers support these students so they can make academic gains? Is there a common thread that benefits both elementary and middle school low performing students? Authors Alegre and Browning explore several teaching and study strategies to help struggling students. In addition, they investigated teacher and student motivation, confidence, attitudes and beliefs that hinder low performing math students. It appears the answer may be as simple as peer tutoring and journaling methodologies that can assist their students--as well as all students from different parts of the world, at different grade levels--to achieve greater success.