Mathnasium's calculated opening in Provo could help solve future workforce problem

The tech sector is growing lightning fast, and a quieter but similar surge is happening on an elementary level, preparing the future workforce needed. One company is leading the way. Mathnasium is one of the fastest growing franchises and ranked in the top 500 by Entrepreneur's Magazine for more than seven years. Mathnasium specializes in teaching kids math in a way that makes sense to them.

Liz Craig, mother of five and account executive at Bennett Communications, cites Mathnasium as the prime reason her children enjoy and love math, and have gone on to major in math-related subjects.

“I tried tutors over and over again, but found the tutoring was only helpful for the current classes they were taking, but it didn't actually teach the math knowledge and skills,” Craig said. Then she found Mathnasium, and enrolled all of them. “I have seen my kids go from being functional in math, to loving math, which led to majoring in math and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah.”

The newest Mathnasium, serving Provo and Orem, will have its grand opening Thursday, March 26 at 2255 North University Avenue in Provo. Though the ribbon cutting ceremony will be at noon, the center will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. to welcome families interested in learning more about how Mathnasium, as they say in their marketing materials, “has cracked the code to teaching children math in a way that really makes sense.”

“We’re excited about this opportunity to introduce ourselves to the Orem and Provo communities and demonstrate to area residents how Mathnasium forges a positive attitude toward math among kids," said James Moore, the Orem center’s owner. "We’ve had enormous success in boosting students’ math skills and their understanding of mathematical concepts. Math can be intimidating to both students and parents, so we hope the open house will show how the Mathnasium Method makes it interesting and fun.”

Mathnasium may be a franchise, but it is built on fully individualizing instruction and personal one-on-one teacher and student contact. It is also built on Mathnasium founder Larry Martinek’s 40 years of teaching experience.

“The thing that makes Mathnasium unique is the method -- we have more than 18,000 pages of material available,” said Craig McArthur, Mathnasium’s Orem director.

McArthur said their method and diagnostics can actually target specific skills a student is missing, like simple sequencing, or borrowing when subtracting.

“The talent of the franchise is the ability to diagnose gaps in a child’s learning. We can clearly identify what gaps there are and make a specific learning plan,” McArthur said.

Additionally, Mathnasium works with students who already enjoy math.

“We are not exclusively remedial. We enjoy when students are gifted, and mom brings them in because they are bored with what is at school,” McArthur said.

Those students are tested to see where their skills are, and then they are given one-on-one attention, and packets that help them go further. In Craig’s case, she also had a couple of children who enjoyed the enrichment as well.

“As a mother, I want to help my kids build their foundation for a lifetime. I am forever thankful for such an ingenious, positive, smart program that fills in the holes of their mathematic education and builds a solid foundation for their future. The increase I see in their self-esteem is priceless,” Craig said.

Moore said he will be opening another Mathnasium in Spanish Fork to serve the Springville, Spanish Fork and Payson area by mid-summer.