How We Help Delaware Homeschool Families Solve the Math Problem

written by Troy Makous, Owner & Director, 302-509-2010

When parents in Delaware make the decision to homeschool, they typically do it for freedom, customization, and academic excellence. But if you ask almost any homeschool parent which subject creates the most friction at the kitchen table, nine times out of ten, they’ll tell you the exact same thing: math.

As a former engineer and the Owner of Mathnasium of Pike Creek, I look at learning through a lens of systems and efficiency. Math is unique because it’s strictly cumulative—if a single brick is missing in the foundation, everything built on top of it wobbles. For homeschool parents, taking on the role of primary math teacher often means navigating curriculum gaps, dealing with schoolwork friction if not tears, or simply spending hours trying to explain a concept that used to make sense when you were in school.

We already serve a dedicated group of homeschool families here in Delaware and our goal is simple: to take the weight of teaching math off your shoulders while giving your child a level of mastery that traditional curriculums struggle to replicate.

Let’s break down how we partner with homeschool families to make math work.

The 60-Hour Reality: Efficiency Through Precision

Most homeschool parents are already using a math curriculum at home and certainly many homeschool families enrolled with Mathnasium chose to keep using such curriculums. That said, the reality of most curriculums is that they are not particularly efficient, relying heavily on drilling and gamification when what is needed is a scaffolded approach to the skill of math. 

Our students typically move forward an entire academic grade level in 60 hours.

How is that possible? It comes down to asking one simple, diagnostic question: "What does this child truly know, and what do they not yet know?"

Before we teach a single topic, every student takes a comprehensive diagnostic assessment that unpacks their mental math skills, numerical fluency, understanding of the number line, and—for older students—computation and order of operations. We of course assess for all critical subtopics of math appropriate to their level of proficiency as well. 

Regardless of the age, when we ask a child to answer a math question out loud, we are unpacking their ability to not only get the answer correct but also the speed and efficiency of their method. There is a vast difference between a child who gets an answer right by drawing tally marks or skip-counting on their fingers, and a child who has true numerical fluency. If a student has to skip-count 5,10,15,20,25 to figure out 5×5, that needs to be addressed. It uses up mental energy that they will desperately need later for Algebra and Geometry and, more importantly, in normal life as an adult. 

We identify those hidden friction points and build a cumulative learning plan that targets those gaps by building off of what they already know. Math is a discipline, just like a sport or an instrument, and should be approached that way instead of approached with a generic age-based expectation. 

Kids Don’t Dislike Math. They Dislike Feeling Confused

I’ve talked to hundreds of parents who walk into our center saying, "My child just isn't a math person," or "They hate math."

In my experience, that’s almost never true. Kids don’t dislike math itself; they dislike feeling confused. Also: there is no data that says math is hereditary. It is a skill, not a trait. 

When a child is handed material that relies on concepts they never fully grasped, confusion is inevitable. That confusion leads to frustration, which eventually looks like a bad attitude and in time creates a bad attitude. As the gaps persist, they widen, and the confidence is stunted. This negative feedback loop is exactly what we need to interrupt and reverse. 

By using our initial assessment to place students at their exact skill level—regardless of what grade the calendar says they’re in—we instantly strip away that confusion. When you put the right material in front of a child and guide them through logical, step-by-step understanding, the frustration vanishes. In its place, you get confidence. One of our homeschooled students told me just the other day how she proudly calculated the tip at the restaurant—only a couple months after being petrified of working on math by herself, let alone in public.  

Making the Work Worth It: Arcade-Style Motivation

Learning math takes focus and effort, especially when you’re going back to fix foundational gaps. To keep kids engaged, we built an incentive structure that speaks their language.

Our center operates with a reward system similar to an arcade. As students complete work and demonstrate mastery, they earn stars. Those stars add up to rewards cards, which they can cash in at our rewards cabinet for prizes they actually care about, ranging from candy to squishies, to games and electronics. Some are even working toward an iPad. This motivation transforms math from a chore into a goal-driven challenge. Kids leave their sessions excited about what they accomplished and eager to come back for the next one. Turns out that kids like working for free about as much as adults do!

Real Results: Restoring Harmony at Home

At the end of the day, parents enroll in Mathnasium for results, not for hours spent tutoring. As such, what matters is the data and our numbers show that this approach works: 

• 1 Full Grade Level: On average, a student advances a full grade level in math within 60 targeted hours at Mathnasium. No homework is assigned either. 

• 94% of parents report that their child’s overall understanding of math improved.

• 93% of parents report a noticeably better attitude toward math.

• 92% of parents say math work at home became easier.

That last statistic is the one that matters most for many homeschool families. When math is the primary source of tension at the kitchen table, it strains the parent-child relationship. One of our Google reviews from a parent put it simply: once their child started at Mathnasium, the daily battles over math disappeared completely. Removing that friction doesn't just improve test scores but improves family dynamics.

Accelerating Advanced Learners

While a lot of our focus in this article has been on closing foundational gaps, we also serve a thriving group of students who already love math and excel at it. In fact, several of our students are working two to three years ahead of their traditional grade level, with some even preparing for math competitions. Advanced students thrive at Mathnasium because our individualized learning plans allow them to go as far and as fast as their curiosity takes them without being held back by a standardized pace. They’re just as motivated by earning stars for our rewards cabinet but they also gain a deep intrinsic satisfaction from being in a calm, focused environment where they can immerse themselves in math they genuinely enjoy. Our program builds their self-confidence just as much as that of any other group here.

In fact, students ranging from struggling to on-grade to enrichment all enjoy and build confidence here at Mathnasium. 

Math Facts Meets Hands-On Application

Homeschool parents often tell us they are looking for a curriculum that balances academic rigor with hands-on, tactile learning. We agree: you can’t skip either one.

To build real math confidence, kids need to tackle challenging problems and work through them. That focused practice builds grit and mental resilience. But sitting at a desk isn't the whole picture; you need to use math in the world. 

We heavily emphasize verbal, out-loud math instruction and physical game-based application. In our program, kids regularly use manipulatives and play math-focused games that turn abstract concepts into tangible experiences.

Plus, we have dedicated "Fun Weeks" every month to get kids out of their seats and moving. Here are a few examples: 

• Airplane Week: Make a paper airplane, toss it, and measure it with a tape measure

• Number Bag Toss Week: Toss the beanbag, but don’t let your sum go above 21 or you get less stars for the throws. 

• Math Scavenger Hunts: Getting active around the center, solving clues, and working through mental math on their feet.

We also have a Problem of the Week that is always up for kids to apply their math skills, which some kids find to be their favorite part of Mathnasium. 

This environment proves to kids that math isn't just marks on a page, but a useful tool for navigating the real world.

Built for Homeschool Life: Daytime Hours and Social Community

One of the biggest priorities for homeschool parents is finding high-quality opportunities for structured socialization.

To support our local homeschool community, we offer dedicated daytime hours specifically designed for homeschool schedules. This gives students the opportunity to step out of the house, complete their math in an encouraging, professional environment, and work alongside peers.

Because our daytime hours are intentionally structured for homeschoolers, kids naturally form friendships, collaborate during game time, and build a positive social routine around learning. It turns math time into a social highlight of their week.

A Local Partner for Your Homeschool Journey

Homeschooling gives you the flexibility to design the ideal education for your child, but you don't have to teach every subject completely on your own.

Whether you want us to handle your child’s primary math instruction entirely, supplement your current curriculum, or simply give them a social, structured environment to build advanced mental math skills during the day, Mathnasium of Pike Creek is here to be your partner.

If you’re ready to see where your child’s math skills truly stand—and take math off your to-do list—we invite you to schedule a free diagnostic assessment with us or give us a call at 302-509-2010. We’ll sit down together, go over the results, and show you exactly how we can set your child up for long-term success.