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.
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.
8th Grade
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!
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).
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!
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.
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.
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!
By Mathnasium | January 13, 2021
When starting a new year, it’s always good to look to the past, appreciate what has happened, and focus on what lies ahead. Today we’re going back to the beginning of Mathnasium and invite you to take the quick journey with us!
In the 1990’s, education industry pioneers Peter Markovitz and David Ullendorff recognized that to truly be successful in school and in life, students need a solid understanding of mathematics. There was a vast disconnect, though, between students’ learning skills and the math curriculum they were taught in school.
To address that gap, they founded Mathnasium — a math-only learning center committed to providing the world’s best instruction. Their goal: teach children how to think, with the skills to succeed in math and the confidence to achieve their academic potential.
By Mathnasium | January 2, 2021
Regardless of age or skill level, there are almost always gaps in a child’s foundational understanding that, if addressed, would boost their success in math.
When we give assessments to children in our math learning centers, we see that a high proportion of their knowledge gaps stems from a lack of number sense. Number sense is “the ability to appreciate the size and scale of numbers in the context of the question at hand.” In essence, it’s the understanding of what numbers mean, how they work together and how they connect to real life. It’s critical that children have a firm grasp of number sense, because it underlies all mathematical comprehension and ability. Typical math tutoring does not teach number sense, acting as a bandage rather than a cure for the problem.
Before I came to Mathnasium, I could sum up everything I felt about math in one word: 'EVIL!' I hated math. ... Mathnasium has been my safe haven. They truly have shown me the light when it came to addressing my fear and provided me with the tools that I need to rebuild my prior knowledge so that I won't forget it. Math is no longer a subject I shy away from but it is a subject I can boldly accept and understand.
Roxanne, 12th grade
