Uh oh – it’s that time of the month again, a time that you, as a parent, have come to dread over the course of the past year. Your child is about to walk through the door with her latest test results in hand. While there’s no doubt in your mind that she’s aced almost every subject, there’s one exam that will probably serve as the source of aggravation and tears for your otherwise straight-A student – the math test.
It’s an unfortunate fact that far too many students find themselves struggling with math each year. While it’s true that good teachers combined with just the right amount of parental involvement can often times help students work through these issues, sometimes that just isn’t enough. Fortunately, there’s a place where students can go to not only improve their math scores, but to start understanding math on a whole new level. It’s called Mathnasium, and for many struggling students, it has been nothing short of a true academic lifesaver.
John Napoli is the owner of Mathnasium of Middletown, New Jersey, and according to him, Mathnasium’s unique philosophy is part of what makes its programs so successful.
What does the Mathnasium philosophy entail?
Mathnasium was founded on the premise that students need to learn to embrace and enjoy math in order to excel in their studies. Furthermore, children who are struggling with math don’t actually hate it, but rather, they dislike the feeling of being perpetually confused and intimidated by it. By getting students to understand math on a much deeper level, Mathnasium can help them grow to actually like math and become passionate about it – and thus begins the cycle of mathematic success.
How does Mathnasium work to follow through on its philosophy?
It’s simple – by assessing student needs on an individual basis, the learning professionals at Mathnasium can work to help children get past their problem spots to develop a deeper understanding of math on a whole. According to Mathnasium, becoming a top math student is all about achieving “number sense” – the ability to understand math in a manner that comes naturally.
Of course, “number sense” does not simply develop overnight. Rather, it takes the right amount of practice, coupled with the proper educational approach, to have a student reach a point where she is truly comfortable tackling math problems. Furthermore, the professionals at Mathansium are firm believers that in order for children to succeed at math, they need to regard it as something that is as conquerable as it is fun. By presenting math in a whole new light, Mathnasium works to help children move past those feelings of constant confusion and instead learn to embrace the idea of working with numbers on an ongoing basis.
But does this philosophy really work?
According to Napoli, it absolutely does. Whereas teachers, parents, and private tutors are often unable to get through to children who are struggling with math, Mathnasium has a proven track record of helping children hone their skills and produce unquestionable academic results. From higher test scores to better performances in class, students who enroll in Mathnasium end up coming away with the skills they need to excel at math throughout their scholastic careers. Best of all, those who take part in Mathnasium’s programs are able to reap the benefits of added self-confidence in their academic abilities on a whole.
If you’re tired of seeing your child disappointed every time she brings home a math test, then head on over to your local Mathnasium branch to find out more about the various options it offers. The great thing about Mathnasium is that its programs are designed to improve your child’s math skills without taking over her after-school life.
Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of hours a week – coupled with the right educational approach, of course — to turn a struggling student into a mathematical superstar. So if you’ve been putting off the inevitable for far too long, then it’s time to face the reality that your child isn’t magically going to get better at math overnight. Rather than continue to let your child suffer academically, bring her in to Mathnasium and prepare to kiss those math woes goodbye.
