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Kids Learn Math Their Own Way at Mathnasium

Mathnasium, a learning and tutoring center where the focus is exclusively on math, is coming to Shelby Township April 1.

When Laurie Shappee’s daughter told her about a place where she saw kids “learning math but having fun,” the former middle school math teacher had to see it for herself.  What she found was a learning franchise that mirrored her own personal teaching philosophy.

Last August, Shappee and her husband, Bill Sobolewski, opened a Mathnasium learning center in Rochester Hills and in April–just eight months later–they are preparing to open their second location in Shelby Township at 45983 Hayes Road.

Mathnasium is a learning and tutoring center where the focus is exclusively on math with a unique system designed to teach children a lifelong “number sense” that goes beyond rote exercises and short-term memorization.

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Shappee describes the three components of “ number sense” as:

  • Counting
  • Wholes and parts
  • Proportional thinking

It combines procedural knowledge with conceptual learning.  Both are needed for success in math, Shappee says.

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The center is also equipped with learning aids to accommodate different learning styles from visual to tactile.

Shappee’s extensive experience in education gives her a broad understanding of the learning process.

She taught math at Troy’s Larson Middle School for 32 years. During that time, she was also the Troy school district’s math coordinator and was responsible for developing and analyzing common student assessments. 

In addition to the Mathnasium franchise, Shappee works as a math coach in both Oakland and Macomb County intermediate school districts.  She works with teachers to increase their mathematical knowledge, develop a meaningful subject delivery and increase student engagement.

She is a member of the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics.  She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Michigan State University and a master's degree in reading instructions from the University of Michigan.

Shappee says that combination of math and reading is important. "There’s an art to knowing how to read and understand math,” she said.

She says simply understanding vocabulary can potentially raise a college entrance test score by three to four points.

Mathnasium tutors are “cream of the crop math people,” says  Sobolewski, but not necessarily teachers.  They can be anyone from a college student to a retiree who knows math and can relate to children. 

All applicants are required to pass a test similar a teacher’s certification exam.  They are not allowed to use a calculator and must score 80 percent or higher.  There are no multiple-choice questions and the applicants must show their work.  Once hired, tutors attend “Mathnasium University” online to learn teaching techniques geared to  Mathnasium’s philosophy to “Teach kids math in a way that makes sense to kids.”

Yet, a way that makes sense is different for every student. That’s why the Mathnasium process begins with a diagnostic test based on the National Education Association’s standards.  Based on the test results, a personalized learning plan is developed.  Also included is a customized “workout book” to build mental math skills and problem-solving strategies.

It’s not enough for the child to simply arrive at the correct answer. He or she must also learn the reasoning behind it. 

“The instructors talk to them to see how they arrive at the answer,” Sobolewski said.

He describes Mathnasium’s approach as “individual instruction in a group environment.” On a typical day, there are five to seven tutors working with 30-35 children.

Various membership plans are available for different levels beginning at the second grade through pre-algebra, algebra and higher, homework help and test preparation and ACT/SAT test preparation.

A typical package includes two scheduled one-hour visits per week.  There is also an option for unlimited visits.

One-on-one tutoring is available.

Mathnasium membership is paid on a monthly basis via automatic debit. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, checks and cash are all accepted.

Mathnasium’s Rochester location is at 2933 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, (248) 299-3000 or online at rochesterhills@mathnasium.com.

Mathnasium’s Shelby Township location, opening April 1, is at 45983 Hayes Road, Shelby Township, (586) 532-6500 or online at shelbylakeside@manthnasium.com.

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