The definition of a foundation is: the basis or groundwork for anything. The ability to excel in any discipline, including math, depends upon building on a solid foundation.
Foundational Skills are the Basis of the Mathnasium Curriculum
Our curriculum focuses on the foundational skills, giving children the tools they need for success in math. The Mathnasium curriculum focuses on 4 foundational skills. They are:
- Counting
- Number Sense
- Wholes and Parts
- Proportional Thinking
Can Math Be Learned in a Different Order?
Math development is fairly sequential, but there can be a bit of variation in the order some skills are learned. For example, one child may learn to skip count by 10’s (10, 20, 30, 40 …) before learning to count on from 10 to 20 (10, 11, 12, 13 …). But a child should master counting in a variety of ways before multi-digit addition and subtraction.
How our Center Teaches the Foundational Skills
Every student starts with a comprehensive assessment. The assessment tells us what concepts the child has mastered and what concepts he or she has not mastered. Each child gets a customized learning plan according to their area of need. It may, or may not, be skills they are currently learning in school. If the child has already fallen behind in math at school, they are likely missing foundational skills.
Our curriculum guides each student in sequential concepts. Each concept helps build the foundation. If a child demonstrates that they mastered a concept, our program gives enough flexibility to skip ahead. Our curriculum design interweaves foundational skills throughout the lessons. Then it challenges them to think differently. We address every child’s area of need. Traditional tutors, who just help a child with current schoolwork, do not address the root of the problem. Not focusing on foundational skills in math is like trying to teach a person to run before they learn to walk.
Give us a call today. 303-840-1184.
This article was written by and owned by Cuttlefish Copywriting, www.cuttlefishcopywriting.com. It is copyright protected. Mathnasium of Parker has permission to use it. Other Mathnasium locations should contact Heather at [email protected] before using it.