There is just so much noise and so much hype about so many different learning programs that as a parent it’s confusing as to where we should focus our time and our money to produce best possible results for our child.
But if you have been doing your due diligence and have recognized all the exciting benefits of Abacus Mind Math, you probably want to get your child started right away so they can benefit immensely from the relatively small window of opportunity presented by their age. (Abacus Mind Math is most effective between ages 5-12.)
But How? Where do you go to get your child the resources they need to help them learn Abacus Mind Math and develop amazing Math Fluency?
In this article we discuss some common and some unique options for you to consider to make an informed decision on how best to help your child achieve Early Math Success!
Abacus Learning Centers
The default and probably the very first option to naturally consider is to look for an Abacus Mind Math Learning Center near you. If you are one of the few who live in an area where you have one or more learning centers in close proximity, that may be your best first option to consider.
Here are a few questions you should ask during an in-person conference at a learning center:
- Ask how long the center has been in operation.
- Understand how teachers and hired and trained.
- Ask to see a classroom in action.
- Ask to see a Mental Math demonstration from one of their current students.
- Ask about class schedule – once a week, twice a week etc.
- Ask about duration of each class – 1 hr, 2 hrs etc.
- How much homework with there be each week?
- Inquire about missing a class and make up policies.
- Ask if you can call or bring your child by again if your child is stuck.
- Ask if they will spend a few minutes with you after every class to show you what they taught so you can help them with practice at home.
Now here are some practical things to consider when enrolling your child at a learning center
What is the cost for your child to enroll?
Most typical learning centers have a curriculum that spans classes over approximately 2 years. You will likely be paying anywhere between $100/mo – $200/mo per child depending on the part of the country you live in. Some may also have a hefty registration fee and material fee. Understand the financial commitment.
Will you be able to commit to the schedule?
Understand that by enrolling your child at a learning center you are making a commitment to drive your child back and forth every week at the same time.
Can you take a break from classes in the middle? How will that affect your child?
During summer or otherwise, you may wish to take a few weeks off from class. Make sure to ask if that is something the center recommends and what if anything you can do during that time to continue helping your child?
If you don’t have Abacus learning centers near you or if the required financial and commute commitment are going to be a burden considering the time duration involved, all is not lost.
There are other more viable options especially if you are willing to invest one hour a week of your time helping your child with Abacus Mind Math at home. I know that as parents we already do, and are willing to invest lot more than just one hour a week to ensure a bright future for our children.
Now before you laugh at the idea, and throw up your hands in despair saying “I never learned it” or “I don’t know how to do it”, or “I don’t know if I will hurt my child rather than help my child by teaching them myself”, let me put your mind at ease.
You don’t have to be a math person or a math teacher to help your child with Abacus Mind Math at home. You have already been your child’s first teacher ever since they were born. And more than a teaching certification, what you need are the right resources to be able to teach your child Abacus Mind Math. I know, because I did it and so can you!
Below I present a couple of practical options for you to consider. Since Abacus Mind Math is visual in nature, options I present below will guide you towards sources that provide visual instructions. Now there are probably a number of books that you can find on Abacus Mind Math, but in my opinion, they are a painfully difficult way to learn and teach Abacus Mind Math.
YouTube
I don’t know about you, but YouTube is my default go-to source whenever I am looking for a solution. If I want to learn how to fix a leaking faucet, replace a light fixture, or learn about a math topic to help my child when they have a question, I go digging on YouTube.
With that said, it’s only fair that YouTube be considered for finding Abacus Mind Math lessons.
However, dependence on YouTube alone, for learning and teaching your child Abacus Mind Math is not a viable option.
Information is generally very disorganized on YouTube and without knowing what you need to know in what order, it’s extremely difficult to find everything that you will need organized in the right order to teach with confidence.
A key component to teaching mind math, besides the lessons, are practice worksheets that go along with the lesson. These worksheets are definitely not on YouTube!
Following along with the visual nature of Abacus Mind Math, the alternative would be to work with a teacher who can provide step by step lessons, corresponding practice worksheets and be there to guide you and your child to success. That is however easier said than done. There are not many such independent teachers out there who would be willing to teach you, even if you were willing to pay them handsomely for their time. Now, to be fair, there are companies who are willing to teach you but only if you sign up as a Franchisee. If your interest is really in just teaching your child, franchising is an overkill and comes with huge costs and obligations.
Online Course and Mentorship
In this amazing world of the internet, you are no longer restricted to resources in your local proximity. You will find teachers like me at “Learn Abacus at Home” who are providing all the resources you will need to help your child succeed with Abacus Mind Math for a very reasonable fee without the encumbrances of franchising.
While internet is a boon in many ways, you also want to be vigilant when selecting the online provider to make sure you sign-up with a reputable team who can work with you to deliver the transformation you seek for your child.
You want to find a teacher who:
- Has Been teaching for a number of years
- Has a proven content that has produced demonstrable results for their students
- Has positive reviews from other parents about the teacher and their program
- Is available to answer questions to help and support you and guide you if you need help, which you inevitably will during the course of the program.
To learn more about Learn Abacus at Home program and the resources and services included in our membership to help your child achieve Early Success and Amazing Math Fluency, Click Here.
Conclusion
There are so many direct and indirect benefits of Abacus Mind Math that as a parent you owe it to the future success of your child to seriously consider this program while your child is between ages 5-12. Since the results are more pronounced if you start when they are younger, this should be the very first enrichment program you should entertain for your child before any other program. There are many different ways to get your child started on the program as detailed above. After teaching for over a decade, we’ve found that results are more pronounced and accelerated when parents are engaged and practice with their child at home even if they choose to enroll them at a Learning Center. But by taking charge and teaching your child Abacus Mind Math at home, you will significantly reduce the time required to produce desired results.
Click here to learn more about the Learn Abacus at Home program.