Number Sense Blog

Why Your Child Needs Math More Than You Think

By Mathnasium | August 25, 2021

The language of the universe, math is omnipresent and unavoidable — and that’s a good thing.

Math is a universal tool that helps our children thrive. From the earliest years, when parents show children the importance of sharing (dividing) with others, they are also teaching them math. As they get older, though, children often ask, “When will I use math in real life?” The answer to them should be, “Every day!” Children need to develop a strong math foundation early to help them through school, future careers, and throughout every aspect of their lives.

Math isn’t just for humans. Animals can count, too!

By Mathnasium | August 11, 2021

It’s no secret that animals are amazing in all kinds of ways, but how many of us knew that they could do math? Studies show that many different species are able to determine quantity to help them solve a variety of problems, such as acquiring food, navigating, defending themselves, and even finding a mate.

Building Math Success from a Strong Foundation

By Mathnasium | July 28, 2021

Unlike many academic subjects, math builds upon itself level by level, so it’s important to start with a strong foundation. The proven Mathnasium Method^TM forms the foundation for math mastery through deep understanding, with carefully selected topics that lay the groundwork for Number Sense and other concepts encountered later in school. As students increase comprehension and build math skills, their excitement and confidence grow, and they strengthen their natural love of learning.

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!