Zearn is a concept-first math program for the early grades (K-2), built around making sense of math rather than memorizing it. Each lesson is a short stack of activities - fluency warm-ups, a guided-practice video with on-screen teachers and digital manipulatives, and a “Tower of Power” quiz to finish. Your child works the “Next Up” card at the top of the feed, completing every activity in order to earn XP and unlock the next lesson.
How to log in
Apps in TimeBack log in automatically as standard. If the automatic login doesn't work, follow the steps below.
You can sign in with a username and password (your child's Student email - not single sign-on). TimeBack shows the credentials right before it launches. The very first time, Zearn may ask for a class code.
Open TimeBack: Sign in to TimeBack with your child's student email and find the “Math - Zearn” course on your “Home”
Click Jump In: Open the Zearn course under the “Home” page and click Jump In to reveal the class code, username, and password.
Log in to Zearn: Use the launch link, then enter the username and password from TimeBack.
Enter the class code (first time only): It's in the Zearn course in TimeBack, matched to your child's math grade.
Log in with the username and password from TimeBack; do not sign in with Google.
Getting Started
Press Start on the top card: Zearn opens on the Home Feed. The top “Next Up” card is the next activity; click the Start button to begin.
How lessons work
Press Start, work through the activity.
A new screen will open with your activity. Follow the instructions and complete the tasks.
When you finish, you will see the message “Zearned it!”. Click Done to return to the Home screen.
Students must complete all activities in a lesson to earn XP and unlock the next lesson. Each lesson ends with a “Tower of Power” quiz.
Lesson Activities
If you are in Kindergarten, you will see three activities, and you also must complete all three activities to earn XP and unlock the next lesson.
There is also a lesson tracker at the top. It shows the lesson name and the exact activity you’re on, showing your progress. Once you finish an activity, a check mark will appear on the activity in the lesson tracker, and the top card will update with the next activity.
Wild Cards may appear in the feed. These do not provide XP and can be closed whenever they appear in your feed by clicking on the X button.
Lesson Components
Each lesson runs in order: fluency warm-ups, a guided-practice video, then the Tower of Power quiz.
Fluency: First two activities
This component includes activities designed to build procedural fluency.
Examples include fluency activities and other lesson-aligned exercises that reinforce prior concepts and prepare students for upcoming content.
Grade K has only one fluency activity.
Guided Practice
Students explore new math concepts through an interactive video with built-in learning acceleration supports.
On-screen teachers and digital manipulatives guide students through the new concepts.
Some interactive videos may reference printed notes. These are an optional component in Zearn that consists of questions to be solved on paper.
Independent practice (Tower of Power)
A lesson ends with a Tower of Power quiz. Students answer a small set of questions on the lesson skill.
Students must answer all problems correctly to complete the Tower of Power and unlock the next lesson.
After answering each question, the page shows the students visual indicators. Mistakes show up in red and correct parts in green. This way, they can see exactly where the error is and what was correct, so they can adjust their errors on the next try.
If a student gives an incorrect answer, they will get a boost, which gives them step-by-step help on solving the problem.
If a student makes repeated mistakes on the same question (3 times in a row) an alert is raised, and the student does not receive XP for that lesson.
When a Tower of Power Alert is raised, students will see two support options.
Let’s Do It Together → step‑by‑step guided help.
Watch Math Chat Again → replay the teaching segment.
How XP works
XP is earned by finishing all 4 parts from the lesson tracker without triggering a Tower of Power alert.
You will not earn any XP if you get a Tower of Power Alert. This happens when you answer a question incorrectly three times in a row in the Tower of Power Quiz.
Habits that lead to success
Use pencil and paper; writing each step out cuts down on repeated mistakes.
Replay the Math Chat whenever a concept isn't clear.
Slow down on the Tower of Power; it's about accuracy, not speed.
Use the color clues: red means fix that part, green means it's right.
Stay focused, close other tabs, and look only at Zearn.
How to tell it's working
Steady XP, earned each time your child clears a lesson's activities and the Tower of Power without an alert. Lessons completed but XP not landing usually means alerts (missing the same step three times); that's the moment to slow down, use pencil and paper, and replay the Math Chat. The Badges menu also shows lessons completed.
Common Issues | FAQs
Where do I find Zearn's username and password?
In TimeBack: open the Zearn course, click Jump In for the pop-up.
Zearn is asking for a class code
Only the first time. The class code is provided when you click "Jump In;" enter it once, and Zearn remembers it.
My child finished the lesson but earned 0 XP
Zearn awards XP only when a lesson is completed without a Tower of Power alert (raised when the same step is missed three times in a row). The supports help your child master the skill and carry it forward.
What is the Tower of Power?
The quiz that ends each lesson. Green = correct, red = mistakes, with step-by-step boosts. Completing it without repeated mistakes earns the lesson's XP.
A “Wild Card” appeared; what is it?
Wild Cards don't earn XP and can be closed with the X. Your child only works the top “Next Up” card.