Mathnasium centers are math-specialized learning centers that any child can attend year-round to boost mash skills and knowledge. Marsha Rimokh is the managing director of the Mathnasium in Boca Raton, Florida. Find out more on the Mathnasium Method below:
Here at Mathnasium learning centers, we create lifelong fans of mathematics through implementing the “Mathnasium Method.” The Mathnasium Method is more than just a fun tongue twister- it’s also a comprehensive and highly customized system of teaching that helps students truly understand the fundamentals of mathematics. Rather than just giving a child enough help to finish a night’s worth of homework or pass a single upcoming exam, we strive to give each child the skills and understanding he needs to truly excel.
The Mathnasium Method begins with a comprehensive assessment of where each child is at in terms of mathematics learning skills and knowledge. This assessment goes beyond a few multiplication and addition questions. Mathnasium teachers gain a real understanding of the students strengths and weaknesses as they asses each student’s “number sense” through oral communication. We don’t just want to know if a child has memorized his multiplication tables; we want to see how he thinks about numbers.
Using this assessment, we can determine exactly what basic mathematical skills and concepts this child is lacking. These learning gaps are incorporated into his customized curriculum, creating a balanced and highly personal learning plan. We start with mathematical concepts that the student clearly understands and use these concepts to move into new math territory, “filling in the holes” that have kept him from succeeding thus far.
Lastly, validation is a part of the Mathnasium method, especially in terms of results. While we expect that each child’s improvement will be obvious in his improved attitude towards math, and in his confidence level, improvement is also validated through his school’s standardized test and other factors.
Parents will notice their child taking a new approach to homework, often a more confident or independent approach. And, of course, scores on quizzes and in-class tests should speak loudly in regards to mathmatic improvement. Students may also participate in class more, as they will feel more confident in their math ability and therefore more comfortable asking questions or raising their hand to answer a question.
An example of the Mathnasium Method:
Anne is a 14-year-old 9th grader who has been struggling this term in her first Algebra class. She hates doing the homework, and has repeatedly felt embarrassed when she didn’t know the answer to a question the teacher asked her. Upon her initial assessment at Mathnasium, we see that Anne has a great grasp of multiplication, but seems to have never fully understood some of the concepts involved with fractions. She also gets confused when trying to think of mathematics problems in her head. These are her two biggest hurdles in learning algebra, and until addressed, they will come up again and again in every mathematics class she takes.
We incorporate these two issues into her customized curriculum, starting with the multiplication concepts that she feels comfortable with. We move seamlessly from multiplication into a few fraction concepts, and then into the exact fraction concepts that she doesn’t understand. Once she has mastered these key fraction concepts, we begin with algebra. We also teach her how to break a complicated math problem into several smaller problems that can easily be calculated in her head. As she continues coming in twice a week, Anne’s skill level and confidence has obviously skyrocketed. Her test scores show visible improvement, and she is proud when she correctly answers questions posed to her by her algebra teacher. She no longer complains that she “hates math.”
