Number Sense Blog

Summer Is the Season for Accelerating Math Skills

By Mathnasium | May 26, 2021

Spring is the season of new beginnings. When flowers start to bloom, trees shake off the doldrums of winter and turn green, animals awaken from their winter slumbers and the earth seems to spring back to life (see what we did there?).

Even in a year unlike any other in human history, these facts about springtime still remain true. As does another ritual of spring that parents across the country and around the world begin to undertake in springtime: planning summer activities for their kids.

Sure, there are camps and playdates and sports to keep kids busy over the course of the summer months. And they’re all healthy activities so important to the normal development of children. But in such an extraordinary year, when education — and math in particular — has been disrupted in real and unique ways, there’s one summer activity that will reap benefits for the rest of your child’s life:

Teaching Math in a Way That Makes Sense

By Mathnasium | May 12, 2021

What is it about Mathnasium that helps students find success in math? The answer is simple: We teach for understanding. Instead of coaching students to rely on memorization, rote learning, or calculators, our highly trained instructors use multiple approaches, so children learn in ways that make sense to them. Because all students learn differently.

The Mathnasium Method™ is unique in that it employs five distinct modes to deliver our program to students, and lessons usually involve a combination of several of these modes. If a student doesn’t understand a concept one way, the instructor will use another mode until the student thinks, “Aha! I get it.” This deep understanding is the key to reaching their mathematical potential.

Our Results

By Mathnasium | April 14, 2021

Does Mathnasium work? We conducted multiple parent surveys and independent studies to find out. And the answer is a resounding YES. Children who consistently attend our learning centers make tremendous strides in comprehension, confidence and grades, and their performance improves on standards-based tests.

Ask Larry: Math and the Left-Brained Misconception

By Mathnasium | March 24, 2021

Larry Martinek, Mathnasium Co-Founder and Principal Education Officer, is a beloved educator, teacher trainer, and curriculum consultant. And together with our expert team, he has spent years refining the most powerful teaching methods and materials into our comprehensive, industry-leading Mathnasium Method™. These “Ask Larry” features are a way for Larry to share his knowledge and love of math with our curious readers and fans.

Dear Larry,

No matter how hard I work to improve my grades in math, I just can’t seem to understand it. I’m a right-brained creative person, and I don’t think my brain is wired to understand math. What advice can you give someone like me to survive math classes until high school is over?

Thanks,

~Melanie R.
8^th Grade

Mathnasium Beliefs

By Mathnasium | March 10, 2021

Since our first learning center opened in California in the spring of 2002, we have grown to more than 1,000 Mathnasium Learning Centers worldwide. We are humbled and incredibly grateful that, with each center we open, we profoundly impact the lives of children, their families, and local communities.

At the core of our business is a set of beliefs that guides us in our mission of changing lives. Continue reading to learn our thoughts about math and learning. And, as always, if you have questions or would like to know more, visit us at www.mathnasium.com!

Prodigious Pi (Activity)

By Mathnasium | March 1, 2021

Why do we make such a big deal out of pi? Because pi is a big deal. This irrational number that begins with 3.14 and goes on forever helps us understand so much about our universe. We first learn about pi when measuring circles, but pi is also used to talk to satellites, to measure how fast and powerful a computer is, and even to study the structure of an eye. Pi is used every day to make calculations in physics, engineering, modern construction, space exploration, and so much more. Pi is all around us, and it helps the world go ‘round (and ‘round).

Activity Alert: The Rule of Three

By Mathnasium | February 24, 2021

Have you ever heard of “the rule of three” (in Latin, “omne trium perfectum”)? It’s a writing principle suggesting that things coming in threes are inherently more satisfying and useful than those that come in other number sets. And that’s certainly true here today!

Reversing Math Loss for the “COVID” Generation

By Mathnasium | February 3, 2021

It goes without saying that the pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives — from the way we live, to how we interact, to the way we work and play. And as most parents of school-aged kids are well aware, it has also greatly impacted our children’s education. How students learn and teachers teach have changed dramatically since COVID emerged around the globe. Instead of teachers providing consistent in-person instruction to children in a classroom, a majority of schools transitioned to online learning – which proved to be challenging for a great many kids. Students had to learn to balance the distractions of home life with daily instruction and completing assignments. And many students faced physical, psychological and economic effects of the pandemic that further impacted their ability to learn.

Math Tips for Students Grades 6 and Up: Introduction, Zero, and One

By Mathnasium | January 27, 2021

Last week, we introduced our Math Tips series to parents with kids in grades K-5 in hopes of helping foster an understanding, mastering, and love of math in the home. This week, we’re continuing this effort for parents with older kids.

The math facts and concepts that we’ll be highlighting in the coming weeks and months should be well known by every student in grade 6 and up. They form the fabric of knowledge — the foundation necessary for success in the middle school and high school math classrooms. Most teachers assume that their students know this information. When facts and concepts are at a student’s fingertips, new material encountered becomes an extension of things they already know. Without them, it seems like every new topic has to be learned from the beginning — and the prospect of that can be daunting.

Math Tips for Parents, K-5: Introduction and Counting

By Mathnasium | January 20, 2021

Parents often ask us what they can do to help their children understand, master, and love math. Well, this happens to be right up our alley. In fact, it’s our mission! Our team of master educators has put together some fundamental tips and strategies that you, as parents and guardians, can use with your children. In the coming weeks and months we will share a number of recommendations in hopes that foundational knowledge can grow in your homes. By utilizing these math tips and engaging your child, you’ll help them feel more confident in math, improve their understanding, and spark their love of learning math.

The following tips are for kids in grades K-5. Parents with kids in grades 6+, check back next week for tips for you!