Our blog this time is dedicated to Ignacio's parents, the true heroes behind his success. Their support has been the driving force in his journey. At Mathnasium, our motto of changing lives through math is more than just words – it's a reality we see in students like Ignacio every day.
At our center, we have a math champion: Ignacio, who has achieved an incredible 500 hours of math mastery. Naturally, we celebrated with cupcakes for everyone and a customized tumbler for our MVP 😊. Ignacio just completed grade 5 at Mattie McCullough and will be moving to St. Francis of Assisi middle school. Below is our interview with him.
M: Do you remember why you came to Mathnasium?
I: I struggled a lot in grade 2. So my dad brought me here.
Ignacio has been with us since the year our center was established. His dad initially thought about enrolling him for just a month. But almost four years later (read it in SpongeBob’s voice), he’s still with us, going strong every session! As an elementary student, his determination and focus are unbeatable. He has the X Factor that all successful students possess: GRIT!
M: What do you enjoy most about your sessions at Mathnasium?
I: As soon as you get a math concept, it gets easier.
This is so true. Ignacio has always faced mountains of new math challenges, but his grit always wins, overcoming the ups and downs. He’s the type of student who dislikes procedural steps, but in some – even many – math concepts, you cannot avoid them. Recently, he conquered BEDMAS which requires a step-by-step process to find solutions.
M: Can you share a moment when you felt particularly proud of your progress?
I: When I got a 100% mark at school. Also, when I felt so at ease with multiplication – after mastering multiplication, everything became so easy. I learn more about math here than in school, and that helps me with my school grades.
Ignacio is what we call ‘the master of mental math’. He literally grew up with the Mathnasium method, starting from his baby steps in math. In grade 2, when he first started, he completed Numerical Fluency Addition & Subtraction in 6 months. Yes, it took some time to finish, but the results were so ingrained in his math brain that now he can count faster than a calculator, even for big numbers 😊. Jumping to multiplication then became easier, and after that, the possibilities became limitless. Fractions and algebra became much easier.
The method that Mathnasium uses to master multiplication extends further – with the same strategy, students can ‘crack the code’ for more complex problems easily.
For instance: “There are 256 batteries in 16 packs. What is the unit rate?” A truly Mathnasium kid would know relatively quickly & mentally that there’re 16 batteries in one pack. How?
They use a ‘launching point’ of times 10: 16 times 10 is 160, and it's only 96 away from 256. So how many 16s are in 96? It’s 6, because (by using a launching point of times 5) 16x5 is 80, and it’s only one 16 away from 96. So 10+6 is 16.
Speed is actually the by-product of having a strong number sense. Doing it mentally with this smart method means that he understood the relationship between numbers.
Ignacio – with the help of the Mathnasium method – could solve complex problems with ease.
M: What advice would you give to other students struggling with math?
I: Learn it step by step, and you will find that math is actually fun!
Yes, math builds upon itself. You need to have strong foundations, layer by layer, brick by brick, or the whole structure will collapse. The Mathnasium mission says: we teach children math so they understand it, master it and love it. And Ignacio has reached the stage where he loves math. He is truly our Mathnasium icon!
M: What’s your next plan, and what’s your plan after high-school?
I: Do good in math at school. And after high-school I’ll go to university. I don’t know yet what field I will study, but something to do with STEM.
Sounds like a good plan! You love math, and you should pursue a field that you are passionate about.
M: What do you enjoy besides math?
I: Soccer!
In addition to attending Mathnasium, Ignacio enjoys playing soccer, with Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite player. And the best part? He’s kicking goals in math just like Ronaldo! 😊
