Alethea Chung, a first-grade student at the Spirit of Math in Metuchen, shows off her poster project. METUCHEN — A multitude of programs exist for students who struggle with math, but those who excel may not have as many options available to challenge their abilities.
Gifted young mathematicians in the area can take advantage of a Canadian program called Spirit of Math, which has been providing challenging after-school enrichment at 355 Main St., Metuchen, since 2009.
The after-school program for high-performing students hosts 1.5-hour classes in Metuchen on Mondays. Students must undergo an interview and have a B+ average or higher to be accepted.
With a current enrollment of 30 and climbing, Spirit of Math has outgrown its current space. Plans are underway to move the program to rented classrooms at Temple Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, next year.
Based on a method developed in the 1980s by Charles Ledger, a Canadian teacher who worked with “enriched and gifted” seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders in Canadian classrooms, Spirit of Math aims to “promote cooperation, inspire confidence and release the genius in every child,” according to the company’s website.
According to Spirit of Math advisor Rebecca Anand, enriched students are those who are high performers but haven’t necessarily been identified by their schools as gifted.
“High-performing means they are doing well in school. They are usually very motivated,” she said.
Ledger’s method consists of four strands: drills, which allow everyone to get their basic addition and multiplication skills on the same level; core number theory, which consists of topics such as geometry; problem-solving; and cooperative group work.
“Ledger’s students did amazing,” Anand said. “A lot of children in Canada compete in math competitions. His classes had more Canadian champions than any of the other schools combined.”
According to Anand, Ledger’s students wanted him to continue to work with them when he retired, so he did so in small groups in a basement.
His daughter, Kim Langen, and his wife, Gwen, who both are teachers, helped him adapt the program to grades 1-11.
Ledger has since retired, but Langen, the current COO, has grown the company throughout Canada over 25 years. With a five-year revenue growth of 154 percent, Spirit of Math ranked among Canada’s fastest-growing companies in the annual PROFIT 500 report for 2014.
Several years ago, Langen’s American friend asked her to expand the program to the Metuchen-Edison area, and she complied. The Edison campus welcomes students in grades 1-8.
With the recent appointment of Jennifer Dodd as CEO, Spirit of Math America is poised for further U.S. expansion.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Dodd to the Spirit of Math America executive team,” Langen said. “Her vast knowledge of market expansion and organizational growth is an invaluable addition to our team.”
Dodd said the team has
“exciting plans for rapid development of Spirit of Math
Schools across America.”
She said the company’s goal is to open a second location in the area within 12- 18 months, and a third location approximately a year after that.
“The goal is to have easy access for after-school education for high-performing students,” Dodd said. “Some parents are driving 15-30 minutes one way, which makes it challenging. But it’s worth it to them when they see the value of the performance for their children both in the classroom as well as in the home.
“But they are asking us to get even closer to where they live, and that’s something that we have immediate intent to do.”
The company’s three target regions for U.S. expansion are the New York/New Jersey area, the Southwest and the West Coast.
“Spirit of Math gives these students a chance to challenge themselves and really stretch their minds,” Anand said.
Spirit of Math is currently enrolling for the fall. Students can get a taste of the program in a one-week summer session beginning Aug. 18. Fall classes begin on Sept. 8. An open house event will be held 2-4 p.m. Sept. 7.
For more information, visit spiritofmath.com, email [email protected] or call 732-983-9960.