Russian School of Mathematics - West Newton

Our Philosophy: The goal of RSM is to give children a solid foundation of math knowledge. To do it well we build it gradually and thoroughly - rather than providing a quick fix for problems and gaps. Every new idea, every block of new information needs time to get absorbed in a child's brain. Every new skill needs to be practiced for a sufficient length of time to make it "stick", and it needs to be repeatedly retrieved for new applications. This is why we offer a whole academic year program, with weekly classes and homework. This seems like a big commitment - but we believe that this is the most effective and the least stressful way for kids to really learn math. Our Methodology: The cornerstone of our program is the famous Russian teaching methodology, first suggested by Russian developmental psychologist L. Vygotsky and later developed by V. Davydov. One of its important features is the early introduction of algebra. This idea is just beginning to gain recognition in the US. The proven result of this methodology is a true understanding of every math concept by a student and his/her ability to independently apply logical reasoning to even unfamiliar types of complex multi-step problems. Our Community: Despite the fact that RSM grew to be the largest specialized afterschool program with an established reputation as a leader in K-12 math education, it still keeps its warm home-like attraction for scores of our students. The reason is that we see our school as something greater than just a place for education. RSM has grown into a community - a place where students learn to achieve the highest results and share their knowledge with peers, build strong self-confidence and meet new friends, laugh, and have fun. Many of our students and their families meet one another in this process and remain close friends for life. The enormous success of our summer Camp Sunapee, where daily math classes are a requirement, is proof that learning and fun are not mutually exclusive. We do our best to provide both fun and knowledge for our children.