Mathnasium vs Russian School of Math?
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Anonymous
| We just realized mathnasium is much closer to us than RSM for our 4th grader. Any experience with both? Are they similar or is RSM better? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Mathnasium is worksheets. RSM is classes and advanced material and enrichment. |
Anonymous
| Has anyone heard art of problem solving? What do u think of it |
Anonymous
| AoPS, Kumon, RSM, and Mathnasium are all good programs. DCUM has at least some advocates for each. All offer math enrichment and reinforcement. There will be some variation from one location of any brand to another location of the same brand. Probably best to visit some location(s) near you, ask questions, observe, and then choose which one fits best for your DC. Children are different from each other, so “best” for one child might not be “best” for a different child. |
Anonymous
+1 My kids are starting their 4th year at RSM. They are significantly ahead of their grade peers, and both are ‘bored’ by their gifted program math instruction in LCPS. RSM excels at teaching mathematical strategies. |
Anonymous
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Mathnasium is worksheets with a 6:1 ratio (although it was much higher when we toured). It seemed like a huge rip off to me. RSM seems like legit enrichment.
When you tour either, ask to see the actual materials your kid will be using to make sure they're at the right level. |
Anonymous
Must be different math from the one in SU times. It was a lots of practice, building on previous skills, and spiraling back a lot and often. |
Anonymous
Then what is the point? |
Anonymous
| Art of Problem Solving is legit challenging. It’s math for people who really love math and have “math brains.” It’s the opposite of worksheets and applying algorithms. |
Anonymous
| AoPS is not tutoring by any means. It’s hard. It’s for kids who are bored with math instruction at school and are looking for enrichment. That said AoPS pushed my kid so far ahead, by 9th, he could have easily done AP Calculus. He was bored out of his mind at school. So not sure that being so far ahead of your peers is good. |
Anonymous
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AOPS is for the top kids in math who need challenge and enrichment. It is not tutoring and moves fast, expecting kids to pick up concepts quick. There is only 1 level at AOPS and it’s the highest level of the 3 programs. AOPS attracts the gifted kids although most of the kids who attend are not gifted but are smart.
RSM works for all kids at all level, those who need help and tutoring and those who need enrichment. They have 3 levels to place kids. Mathnaseum is worksheets and repetitions and best for students who need help and multiple reinforcements. |
Anonymous
DP. The point for my family is that our kids get to encounter more challenges and develop endurance, succesful habits and strategies earlier in life. I have learned from my own experience growing up that breezing through school is not always a good thing. As an 11 year old, I used to solve Math problems from my 15 year old cousin's exams ( different country, so different grades than we have here). I found school so easy that I would do absolutely nothing and get excellent grades. I continued this practice into college in the US and would skip a month of classes and study 2 days before exams and get all As. Professional school was a rude awakening for me. My kids sometimes struggle with Math problems from RSM before getting it right. They never struggle with school work. This is a good time for them to learn how to struggle and succeed. |
Anonymous
| As a participant of both RSM and Mathnasium, I personally think that Mathnasium is better for the learning experience as students have a motive to do the work. Although it might not be the same for everyone, if you want your child to learn something and be ahead of the school curriculum while effectively spending your money, Mathnasium is definitely better. RSM puts your kid into a plain classroom with depriving nature. Mathnasium has the experience of a bright friendly classroom with prizes to earn with the way to get to them being completing the worksheets and learning math. Students at RSM can skip most of their work as teachers will not always check them and students will copy off of others as they are all in the same packet and "scary" teachers to whom they are scared to ask help for. Mathnasium is lively and the instructors are younger and more approachable for help as well as diverse skill levels among the tables to effectively stop cheating and copying. I hope this helps! |
Anonymous
| RSM homework is so bad |
Anonymous
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There are many threads on this on DCUM. Use regular Google to find them.
I am not in the DMV area. I have paid for Mathnasium for middle school and high school skill remediation. Mathnasium is appropriate for remediation. It works well for kids who don't like math. It doesn't have homework. I don't see a problem with the tutor to student ratio. I didn't need my kids to have continuous 1:1 tutoring and kids spend a lot of time doing math so don't need to be watched every minute while completing worksheets. From what I read on this site, RSM and AOPS are good for kids who like math and want to do the added enrichment work. People rarely talk about using those programs to remediate. |