(303) 979-9077
(303) 979-9077
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Q: Tell me about a time when having math skills came in handy
A: Michael, instructor at Mathnasium of Littleton for 5 years: I have been teaching math as a job for over a decade so it has been how I have made a living and how I have been able to help others. In college, I was able to win a bet with a girl about who would score a higher grade on our math final. I won so she had to pay for a sushi date!
Madison, instructor at Mathnasium of Littleton for 1 year: Math comes in handy most of the time when I am budgeting. As a college student who is responsible for her tuition, I have to be smart with the limited amount of money I make while I am in school. Having really good math abilities also came in handy on important standardized tests in high school. It also helped last semester when my friend was struggling in a business math class, and I was able to help her.
Q: Tell me about a memory you have of learning math
A: Michael: One thing I recall is actually learning upper level math correctly during my algebra 2 class. We had a sub teacher all year during my algebra 1 class so I had no idea what I was doing at the start of algebra 2. It took me awhile to catch up. The other thing I remember is when my mom made me practice multiplication flash cards over the summer so when we played around the world, which is a multiplication speed game, I would tend to be the winner!
Madison: Some fond memories I have of learning math were at my elementary school, Red Hawk Ridge. I don’t exactly remember who came in to teach us these multiplication rhymes but I still remember them to this day. Some of them include “Six, Six, Thirty- Six Chicks” and “Six and Eight Went On a Date and made Forty-Eight.” I also really liked the note sheets that my 9th and 11th grade math teacher used. They were organized, pre-printed, Cornell-style notes that we finished filling in and got to keep in order. They were easy to refer back to and made sure that we kept all the most important information.
Q: What are some of the benefits of the Mathnasium Method?
A: Michael: The Mathnasium Method is very effective at giving ways to help students solve basic arithmetic instead of just memorizing facts and counting by ones, among many other things.
Madison: I love the Mathnasium Method, because learned helplessness is hardly possible. Even if one tutor does leave a student with a technique that doesn’t work for them, another one is going to be there in the next few minutes to see how they are doing and offer another way of thinking about the problem, if needed. My favorite thing about Mathnasium, however, is how fun we make it for students. I never had a problem loving math but I know many, many students actually hate it. I love that the consistent, positive interaction with instructors motivates them, but also the stamps and rewards are very motivating for a lot of kids. It’s an amazing way to motivate kids who don’t have a natural affinity for math.
Q: What could Mathnasium have helped you with when you were a student?
A: Michael: My mom made me work on these math workbooks during the summer. I would have loved to go to Mathnasium instead as a way to get ahead and earn rewards. I also would have loved to have a Mathnasium near me during my junior/senior year as a fun place to work since I did not play any spring sports.
Madison: As mentioned before, I never had a problem loving math. I was pretty neutral about it until the 7th grade, when Mrs. Mallett (one of my most memorable teachers) started recognizing and appreciating my hard work. It was in this supportive and fun type of environment that my math abilities began to grow. I just wish that this would have happened sooner. Honestly, I am grateful that it ever happened – as I know it does not for many students. I see this type of support and fun growth happening at Mathnasium for children of all ages.
