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Matrice Williams loves to see kids finally “get” the math they’ve been struggling with at school.

Even before their grades improve, they begin feeling more confident.
In April, the Graham woman and her husband opened a franchise called Mathnasium.

“I love children and I love making a difference in their lives,” Williams said. “I can’t wait to see the results and hear the success stories.”

Mathnasium provides tutoring but also provides math enrichment for students who aren’t struggling.

The center is for children in Pre-K through 12th grade. Parents can drop off their children at any time during Mathnasium business hours.

At the beginning, the student takes an assessment to determine what they should focus on, and a personalized program is created.
The center’s five staff members, including Williams, walk around and assist the children as they need help with their worksheets.

“It’s never group instruction because no one’s notebook is the same,” Williams said.

Staff members must take a tough exam to qualify for the job and take ongoing training. They focus on making sure students master the concepts and aren’t sliding by with simple memorization.

Classical music plays softly from a computer in the corner of the open space. Tables and chairs are set up around Mathnasium, and the walls are decorated with math-themed cartoons and quotes.

Children get to play math games and earn prizes.

“It’s an approach to math that is fun and on their level, and we don’t move on until they get it,” she said.

Many children are driven to improve their math skills.

“A lot of them really don’t want to be frustrated with math anymore, and that’s motivation in itself,” she said.

Williams said she and her husband, a computer business consultant, have always wanted to own a business. But they wanted to make a difference while earning a living.

“We fell in love with the program, and I said 'This is it,’ and we never looked back,” she said.

Williams, who practiced law briefly in California, has always loved teaching. In fact, she homeschools her three children. The afternoon hours of Mathnasium during the school year allow her to focus on home schooling her children during the day.

“This was the perfect merger,” she said.

Children can sign up for three months, six months or a year of unlimited time at the Mathnasium. Fees range from $165 to $290 a month, depending on the contract length and the student’s age.

Mathnasium has summer hours Monday through Thursday and will offer a summer camp for children ages 4 through 7. The eight-week camp costs $165 and will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
“First Steps” focuses on laying a strong foundation for math skills.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 449-4610 or jamie.kennedy@news-record.com