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Don’t Let Your Kids Fall Behind in Math

A great deal of research suggests that over the summer, students can fall behind nearly 3 months in grade level equivalent learning.

More information on this subject is contained here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/opinion/28smink.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_learning_loss

If your kids are struggling, it is never too late to get them the help they need.

We have a proven program to build and rebuild math skills, but for us it is not just about math.

MetroNorth News Article

MetroNorth News - The Northglenn/Thornton Sentinel and The Westminster Window

Adding up achievement


New learning center helps students in math


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  Taylor Williams, 8, completes worksheets at Mathnasium, a math tutoring center in Westminster. The center opened last fall to give students who struggle with math a chance to catch up. Photo by Jon Brodhacker/METRONORTH NEWS.
January 13, 2011 | 11:30 AM
Taylor Williams, 8, begged her mom Monday afternoon for something most parents wouldn't mind giving - more time on math work.

Taylor was one of two students that afternoon quietly practicing math problems at the new Mathnasium Learning Center in Westminster. Her mom had come to pick her up, but Taylor wanted just a little more time, which mom happily gave her.

"I really like it because I can understand math better than before," said Taylor, who has been going to Mathnasium since October, when the franchise opened.

Debra Wolfe, who used to work for Coors Brewing in the finance department, started her Mathnasium franchise near the Orchard Town Center because she wanted to own her own business and help students.
 
 
 
 
She said the program is run like a gym. Students get memberships, though there are no contracts, and come in as often as they need help. Mathnasium-trained instructors work with students on basics, problem solving and their homework.

"Everything is customized," Wolfe said. "We can start at any point."

The centers focus on students in second grade through SAT preparation, though Wolfe said they've also served much younger students and much older students. She said one person even came in for tutoring before taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

"So far, our kids really enjoy coming," Wolfe said.

Mathnasiuim began more than seven years ago and now has more than 230 centers nationwide and in 16 countries, Wolfe said. The ideas behind Mathnasium's methods started more than 35 years ago with a man named Larry Martinek, a teacher-trainer and consultant with a child who was mathematically gifted, according to the company's website, www.mathnasium.com. Martinek spent three decades developing the methods, which are based on giving children a deep understanding of math concepts.
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Two businessmen, Peter Markovitz and David Ullendorff, who had also founded an education software company, used the ideas to start Mathnasium. The Mathnasium Method has three parts - evaluate, educate and validate.

Results are important, Wolfe said. They test students when they first enroll and continue to monitor student progress with school report cards and school tests.

"If we're not getting results in some of those areas, we're not doing our job," Wolfe said.

The students also get incentives. Recently, one student received a $100 bill for scoring 100 percent on a school test.

Wolfe's center offers two memberships. The first, Mathnasium Program Membership, is for students in second though 12th grade and includes a learning plan, individual instruction and homework help. Plans are available for one to 12 months.
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The second, Mathnasium tutoring plus, is for students in upper level classes like geometry, algebra and pre-calculus. It includes homework help and Mathnasium coursework as needed.

There is no contract and students can come as often or as little as they and their parents want. Wolfe estimated most parents pay less than $25 per hour.

Wolfe said what is most important is building students' confidence in math. That she said, gives them the ability to turn in their homework, which not only boosts their grades but also gives them more math practice. Then, Wolfe said, the students become more engaged and start taking more risks to learn tougher material, pushing them to greater math ability.

Williams said Taylor wants to come every day, and often wears her Mathnasium T-shirt, which reads "Caution: your child may become crazy about math." She added Taylor's grades and attitude toward math have improved.

"It has turned out to be a dream," she said. "We're impressed with what we're seeing."

That is exactly what Wolfe had in mind.

"Our goal is to get out and help kids," she said. "I knew it would be rewarding, but I never knew how much."

Caroline Kipp can be reached at carolinek@metronorthnews.com