How Mathnasium of South Barrington helps MOTIVATE students!

Glad you asked! Let’s take a sneak peak inside your local Mathnasium of South Barrington and ask their instructors!

Q: What helps students in your center stay motivated?

A: We provide lots of ways in the center to generate fun and a positive atmosphere for learning. Math can be challenging and we like to encourage our students to work hard and have fun at the same time, no matter which level they are working on. We have Bingo cards, and a fun calendar with ways throughout the month to earn extra stars on their reward cards. We also have game nights quarterly where students can bring friends to join in the fun and games.

Q: Tell us about the reward cabinet!

A: Some rewards we currently offer are: collapsible water bottles, crafts, books, legos, stickers, ring pops, drawstring bags with a gamer theme, claw clips, color-changing cups, stress balls, blank notepads, fun pens and pencils, squishmallows, and blank notecards students can earn to give a friend or family member.

Q: How do students earn prizes from the reward cabinet?

A: Students earn reward ""stars"" on punch cards as they work through their pages, get a Bingo on their seasonal Bingo card, and get a wheel spin for extra punches each session. Cards are valued at about 50 cents and prizes are redeemed for cards at face value. Another way to encourage students to do a little math! The reward cards ""level up"" and the higher level cards have less stars, so students earn them faster!

Q: How does your center celebrate student success?

A: Our Student of the Month is chosen at random and gets 5 reward cards, plus a bulletin board of their own for the month that tells about their favorite things! Students get extra wheel spins if they complete a Mastery Check and also a chance to enter the weekly raffle for extra cards. Here at our center its all about the cards and the prizes! We also celebrate birthdays with extra reward cards!

Q: What is your favorite student success story?

A: It's difficult to choose a specific one, but I love the change in how students come in for their initial assessment (frustrated, silent, and dejected) and then how excited they get when they begin to understand the concepts that have been so challenging for them. Building confidence and teaching students to trust themselves and their hard work is what makes us successful and keeps students coming in for help.