Bullet Point Draft

By Chloe, Instructor

COVID-19 means school is going to look quite a bit different this year. With remote learning just around the corner, a lot of parents are looking for additional learning methods to ensure that this year doesn’t leave their kids feeling lost and confused about the new material.

When it comes to mathematics, where every new skill you learn will continue to be utilized in future math learning, it can be difficult to achieve mastery of a concept even during the best of times. If you’re like most parents I know, you’re looking for an outside educational resource to make sure your students receive the best help they possibly can.

So… what is that?

In this article, I’m going to be comparing and contrasting two of the most popular outside math learning resources: private math tutoring and the Mathnasium Learning Center.

1. Who is teaching my child?

   Math Tutor—With a private math tutor, you likely have one single consistent instructor for your child who works one-on-one with them for each session. This will allow the tutor to get to know the student on an individual basis and allows the student to bond with that tutor.

   Mathnasium—At Mathnasium, your child will have a team of instructors, all of whom will work one-on-one with each student at various points in time. Because every person has a different style of learning, the benefit here is that if something isn’t making sense when one instructor explains it, he or she can enlist the help of another instructor who may have a teaching method that better suits your child’s learning style. This allows for more opportunities for concepts to be explained further. Read more about the benefits of team teaching.

2. Location/Ease

   Math Tutor—A math tutor will either come to your home or teach online via a platform like Zoom or Skype.

   Mathnasium—Instruction is done in two ways: in-center & online. If you elect for the in-center option, you’ll commute to the location, which allows the learning time to be structured and focused, as everyone in the center is there to do math. If you choose the “@home” option, it will function similarly to private tutoring, with instructors available to help guide the learning. You can even switch between the options as needed!

3. Instructional Focus

   Math Tutor – The focus will usually be on the student’s current schoolwork, which can lead to faster grade improvement. The downside is that the student may never fill in their skill gaps, leaving them forever dependent on math tutoring.

   Mathnasium – Mathnasium’s focus is generally on filling in skill gaps so that children can become more independent at math. Some schoolwork help is given, but it isn’t the main goal of the program.

4. Tracking Progress

   Math Tutor – It can sometimes be hard to tell how well your child is progressing, although a good math tutor will be able to provide progress reports. Grade improvement can also be an indicator of learning progress.

   Mathnasium – Mathnasium assesses each child every 2-3 months to track progress and adjust their Learning Plan as needed. (A free initial assessment can be scheduled here.)

5. COVID Concerns

   Math Tutor—Depending on whether your tutor comes to your home or teaches online, the risks of a private math tutor vary wildly. I personally know a number of math tutors in Los Angeles who are refusing to do any in-home teaching at all, which means that many good tutors will only be available for online teaching. If your concern about education this year is based around the fact that their schooling contains too much screen time without any in-person teaching, you may have a hard time finding someone willing to enter your home. If you do find someone to teach in-home, it will be up to you to make sure they’re following COVID safety protocols. With online math tutoring, there are no COVID concerns.

   Mathnasium— Mathnasium is taking COVID very seriously. Parents are not allowed in-center during learning hours, the doors remain open so that the virus cannot linger inside the building, and no more than 6 children are permitted to be inside at a time to allow for social distance. Temperature is taken before entering, and there are sneeze guards between students and instructors. Every precaution that can be taken is being taken.

6. Cost

   Math Tutor—Depending on who you hire, the price can range dramatically, but you will likely be paying an hourly rate. Depending on the amount of math tutoring you need, this may be the more cost-effective option, or it may be more expensive.

   Mathnasium—Mathnasium costs are calculated per month. If you think you will need more than an hour a week of outside help, Mathnasium will likely be the more cost-effective option.

If you end up needing a little extra help this school year, I hope this article is helpful in pointing you in a useful direction. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so do your own research and find the method that works best for you, and more importantly, your child.