Q: Tell me about a time when having math skills came in handy
A: To me, math comes in handy every day. Whether it's doing my budget, calculating tips or adjusting recipes, it is nearly omnipresent. Most recently, I've had to use math to calculate the time difference between Denver and another country where I am meeting with people over zoom.
Q: Tell me about a memory you have of learning math
A: I remember my Algebra I class, when my teacher had us listen to a song about quadratics. Afterwards, she had us dance and we did arm movements to imitate parabolas. We all found it really embarrassing at the time, but to this day, she is the prime reason why we all remember how to solve quadratics.
Q: What are some of the benefits of the Mathnasium Method?
A: A key benefit of the Mathnasium Method is that the student actually understands what they are doing and how they got to the answer using problem solving and pictures. I used to be a student at Mathnasium, and I remember that I would memorize answers and ways to solve equations, but I never really understood what I was doing in math class until Mathnasium helped me to break down the problems and really understand what was being asked. Mathnasium also asks our students to use metacognition when solving problems. This develops a stronger understanding and is not forgotten throughout the years.
Q: What could Mathnasium have helped you with when you were a student?
A: I actually was a student at Mathnasium before becoming an instructor, and Mathnasium definitely helped me as a student. Specifically in math, I was able to start taking accelerated courses in middle school, because throughout my elementary years, Mathnasium challenged me and furthered my understanding of math. It also helped in other areas of my life - I built a lot of confidence.
