Pumpkins, ACT Success Stories, and Parent-Teacher Conferences: Fall at Mathnasium of St. Paul

By Bailey Foss, Center Director | Mathnasium of St. Paul

If you've stopped by Mathnasium of St. Paul lately, you've probably noticed that we're getting into the Halloween spirit!

Between our pumpkin decorating contest, upcoming Halloween party, and all the excitement of fall, there's a lot happening around here.

But October is also an important time academically. Parent-teacher conferences are here, report cards are coming, and families across St. Paul are starting to get a better picture of how their children are doing in school.

As the Center Director, one of my favorite parts of this job is getting to know our students and their families. We celebrate the big accomplishments, but we also get excited about those smaller moments when something finally clicks.

And this month, we've had plenty to celebrate!

The People Who Make Our St. Paul Center Special

I have to start by giving some love to our team.

Our Assistant Center Director, Nathan, helps me keep things running and supports the students and instructors who make our center what it is.

We're also fortunate to have a wonderful group of young instructors, including Emma, Gretchen, and Cameron. They bring great energy to the center and help create an environment where students can feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and even making mistakes.

And this month, we welcomed another new face to our team, Julia!

One thing I really appreciate about our instructors is that students get to build relationships with the people helping them. They're not just sitting down with someone who knows math. They're working with people who want to see them succeed.

Whether it's helping a student through a frustrating problem or celebrating when they finally understand a new concept, those little interactions make a difference.

I'm proud of the team we have here in St. Paul.

Two ACT Scores That Made Our Month!

Okay, I have to share this one because it's pretty incredible.

We recently had two students working with us on their ACT math preparation.

Both students had set the same goal: a 33 on the ACT.

That's a big goal!

They came in, put in the work, practiced, and stayed focused on what they wanted to accomplish.

When they retook the ACT, both students improved their scores by five points.

And the best part?

Both students earned a 33!

I can't tell you how exciting it was to see them reach the goals they'd worked so hard toward.

As educators, we love seeing strong test scores. But what makes these moments especially rewarding is knowing how much effort went into them.

These students set ambitious goals, worked toward them, and got to experience the feeling of achieving something they once might have thought was out of reach.

That's what we're trying to build at Mathnasium, whether a student is preparing for the ACT, learning fractions, or finally mastering multiplication.

Confidence changes everything.

Halloween Fun at Mathnasium of St. Paul

Of course, October wouldn't be complete without a little Halloween fun!

Our pumpkin decorating contest is underway, with pumpkins due on Monday, October 26, which is National Pumpkin Day.

We're also hosting our Halloween party on Thursday, October 29!

I love that our students get to experience these kinds of activities at Mathnasium.

Yes, we're here to help kids become stronger math students. But we also want them to enjoy coming through our doors.

When students feel comfortable, have fun, and build relationships with their instructors, learning becomes a much more positive experience.

And sometimes a little Halloween excitement is exactly what we need!

Parent-Teacher Conferences in St. Paul: What Should You Ask?

October is also parent-teacher conference season for many St. Paul families.

If you're heading into conferences wondering how your child is really doing in math, you're definitely not alone.

Sometimes the grade on a report card doesn't tell the whole story.

A student might be earning decent grades but relying heavily on help to complete assignments. Another student might understand the material but struggle with confidence during tests.

Here are four questions I'd encourage parents to ask during fall conferences.

1. What math skills is my child doing really well with?

It's important to celebrate strengths, too! Knowing where your child feels confident gives you a great starting point.

2. Are there any foundational math skills my child is missing?

Sometimes struggles with fractions, decimals, or algebra come from skills that weren't fully mastered in earlier grades.

Identifying those gaps early can make a huge difference.

3. Can my child solve problems independently?

There's a difference between following along when a teacher explains something and being able to work through a problem independently.

Ask whether your child can explain their thinking and apply what they've learned.

4. What should we focus on outside the classroom?

Teachers often have a good idea of which skills would benefit from additional practice.

Having a specific goal makes it much easier to support your child at home.

And here's something I always want families to remember:

A challenging parent-teacher conference doesn't mean your child isn't good at math.

It just means you've identified an opportunity to help them grow.

The Math Struggles We See Most Often

At Mathnasium of St. Paul, we work with students at all different levels.

Some students need help with basic multiplication and division. Others are struggling with fractions, decimals, percentages, or multi-step word problems.

We also see students who can follow along during class but have a hard time applying those same skills independently.

That's where personalized math instruction can make a difference.

Rather than simply giving students more homework or having them memorize procedures, we work to identify where their understanding breaks down.

Then we build a personalized learning plan to strengthen those skills.

For some students, that means revisiting foundational elementary math concepts. For others, it's middle school math support, algebra, high school math tutoring, or ACT math preparation.

And for students who are already doing well, math enrichment helps them continue to grow.

Our goal isn't just to help students get through their next test.

It's to help them truly understand math and feel confident tackling whatever comes next.

Catch Us Around St. Paul This Weekend!

We're excited to get out into the community this weekend!

On Sunday, October 25, our Mathnasium of St. Paul team will be participating in three local events:

• Gloria Dei Trunk or Treat

• Salem Lutheran Church & School Trunk or Treat

• Hamline Church Fall Festival

If you're attending any of these events, please stop by and say hello!

We love getting the chance to meet St. Paul families outside of our center.

We're also continuing to explore opportunities to partner with local schools, libraries, and community organizations for future math nights and family learning events.

Being part of the St. Paul community is important to us, and we want to be a resource for families beyond the walls of our center.

Come Meet Our St. Paul Mathnasium Team!

Whether your child is struggling with elementary math, needs extra support with middle school or high school math, or is preparing for an important test like the ACT, we'd love to help.

And if parent-teacher conferences leave you wondering whether your child could benefit from additional math support, that's a great time to reach out.

Come meet Nathan, Emma, Gretchen, Cameron, Julia, me, and the rest of our wonderful team!

We'd love to show you around, learn more about your child, and talk about how we can help them build confidence in math.

Schedule a free math consultation at Mathnasium of St. Paul today!

Happy Halloween from all of us at Mathnasium of St. Paul. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!

Bailey Foss
Center Director | Mathnasium of St. Paul