My forth and six grader are having some difficulty with their math. I am still debating among these three places. Sylvan, kumon and mathnasium . What are your taught a on these three learning center
Thanks

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used kumon for a while. It helps, but it's a pity DD can't bear the heavy work. DD now uses beestar math. It's teacher recommended, full of all real life word problems, challenging stuff to help her thinking. DD loves to compete on it with other kids from a lot of other states.
Lisa

are you using the free version or the pay version?

The free version. DD does the worksheets at weekend to ensure that she doesn't forget learned concepts
Lisa

Mathnasium PP here.
I emailed the director of the Fairfax Mathnasium about Singapore Math and here's what he said: (he did give me permission to cut and paste his email)

First on Singapore Math -

The hallmark of the curriculum is the careful guidance of students, done in a child-friendly pictorial language, not only to technical mastery, but to complete understanding of all the "whys". This differs from typical U.S. curricula, which either aim for dogmatic memorization of "rules," or expect students to reconstruct mathematical ideas from hands-on activities without much guidance.

Singapore math is structured around 3-4 key areas - 1) Deep understanding of limited concepts rather then several concepts 2) Concrete- use of real objects 3) Pictorial depiction - drawing out and 4) abstract - solving problems with numbers etc..


Now on Mathnasium-

As you know, Mathnasium is a highly customized program on individual student needs. We do cover one way or another most of the key components of Singapore math (and several other programs), depending on needs of the student. For example, for your younger kid - he gets concepts much deeper, so with him we spend more time on a concept and master it rather then jump to next. To illustrate it further, when we were teaching him multiplication we did not stop at 2 digits by 2 digits or 3 by 3.. we went to 8 by 7 or crazy number of digits, as he got the concept, period - if there are 2 numbers he can multiply them. We did not use concrete (Mathnasium manipulatives) or pictorial (Mathnasium desktools) but directly jumped to abstract side, as using manipulatives or desktools would have slowed him down and he would have got bored on why we are doing this. Some other topics like fractions, we inherently incorporated pictorial (desktools) in our learning plan as it helps him.

Now for some other students that are in same grade as your younger kid, we do use manipulatives and desktools (dice, cards, sticks, mathnasium drawings etc.) so that they understand basic concepts (e.g. multiplication or addition). Once they get it, we start pushing them to abstract side or solving problems using just numbers or equations.

At Mathnasium one of our key goal is to develop math sense within a student. This develops a deeper understanding of math, it connection to future math topics and the world, and reasoning behind the math taught. Memorization of mathematical algorithms and understanding of it is mastered and integrated throughout the curriculum.

We use our flexibility to tailor the program to suit kids needs - kids practicing different kind of math (Singapore, Saxton etc.) get different learning plans or teaching styles - with common goal of developing the math sense.

I'll second recommending IXL. It appears to be just problem sets but it moves from simple to complex problems more effectively than Kumon or other worksheet programs.

Its interesting to me that the flipped model of learn it when you can't do the problem seems to create more understanding than learn it and then practice it. There is something about not know how to do something (you get it wrong) and then you learn it that creates a stronger connection.

Anonymous wrote:We used ixl.com but didn't really like it. It really is just worksheets on the computer no instruction.

I have my girls using reflexmath.com for fluency. There is one for addition and subtraction and one for multiplication and division. Lots of different fun games to play to work on fluency.

IXl does provide instruction if you click on the option after you get the wrong answer. It will show you the process behind getting the right answer for that question.
I used IXL with my kids. I usually had them watch a Khan Academy video on the objective before starting the IXL set.

PP here whose kids go to Mathnasium. We go to Fairfax Corner. Nice location!

I'll ask about Singapore Math.

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to Mathnasium. I love them and my kids do too.
It is pricey but has been so worth it for us.

What I've liked so far:
1) They get help with homework.We've been able to outsource Math- which was getting to be a stressful family time every day.
2) The instructors are hands on and they talk to us at the end of just about every session.
3) The hours are flexible.
4) All work is done at the center. I saw the worksheets at Kumon and knew my kids would not do well in there at all.
5) They focus on concepts- Math sense, rather than repetition. My younger kid also does not like a lot of repetition and would have hated Kumon.
6) They can tailor the lesson plan to your kids strengths/weaknesses. I hear that in Kumon, you have to work your way up.

I'm finally seeing improvement with my 6th grader!

I think the instruction you use will have to fit your kid. My kids do better with teacher instruction rather than with tons of worksheets or computer games.

Do they teach/ help with Singapore math?

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to Mathnasium. I love them and my kids do too.
It is pricey but has been so worth it for us.

What I've liked so far:
1) They get help with homework.We've been able to outsource Math- which was getting to be a stressful family time every day.
2) The instructors are hands on and they talk to us at the end of just about every session.
3) The hours are flexible.
4) All work is done at the center. I saw the worksheets at Kumon and knew my kids would not do well in there at all.
5) They focus on concepts- Math sense, rather than repetition. My younger kid also does not like a lot of repetition and would have hated Kumon.
6) They can tailor the lesson plan to your kids strengths/weaknesses. I hear that in Kumon, you have to work your way up.

I'm finally seeing improvement with my 6th grader!

I think the instruction you use will have to fit your kid. My kids do better with teacher instruction rather than with tons of worksheets or computer games.

which center do you go to?

My kids go to Mathnasium. I love them and my kids do too.
It is pricey but has been so worth it for us.

What I've liked so far:
1) They get help with homework.We've been able to outsource Math- which was getting to be a stressful family time every day.
2) The instructors are hands on and they talk to us at the end of just about every session.
3) The hours are flexible.
4) All work is done at the center. I saw the worksheets at Kumon and knew my kids would not do well in there at all.
5) They focus on concepts- Math sense, rather than repetition. My younger kid also does not like a lot of repetition and would have hated Kumon.
6) They can tailor the lesson plan to your kids strengths/weaknesses. I hear that in Kumon, you have to work your way up.

I'm finally seeing improvement with my 6th grader!

I think the instruction you use will have to fit your kid. My kids do better with teacher instruction rather than with tons of worksheets or computer games.

What does mathnasium offer?

Just ordered and received our Flashmaster and DS loves it! he wouldnt put it down last night, and this is a kid who hates math drills.

two thumbs up for Flashmaster.

We used ixl.com but didn't really like it. It really is just worksheets on the computer no instruction.

I have my girls using reflexmath.com for fluency. There is one for addition and subtraction and one for multiplication and division. Lots of different fun games to play to work on fluency.

how about ixl.com has any one tired that for more than one month?

Anonymous wrote:We used kumon for a while. It helps, but it's a pity DD can't bear the heavy work. DD now uses beestar math. It's teacher recommended, full of all real life word problems, challenging stuff to help her thinking. DD loves to compete on it with other kids from a lot of other states.
Lisa

are you using the free version or the pay version?

We used kumon for a while. It helps, but it's a pity DD can't bear the heavy work. DD now uses beestar math. It's teacher recommended, full of all real life word problems, challenging stuff to help her thinking. DD loves to compete on it with other kids from a lot of other states.
Lisa