Small Business Spotlight: Troy Makous of Mathnasium of Pike Creek

One frustrated kid + the right academic program =  a confident student.

Lucky for Pike Creek parents, this equation will be easier to solve thanks to Mathnasium of Pike Creek. Their program combines trained tutors, proven teaching methods, and personalized learning plans to help students understand, master, and enjoy math. 

They offer year-round tutoring during after-school hours and weekends. By focusing on understanding fundamental concepts and developing critical thinking skills, their approach helps students build a strong mathematical foundation. Mathnasium of Pike Creek Owner, Troy Makous, shared why he is excited to bring this innovative program to our area next month:

One size does not fit all when it comes to education. How does your center support students at their level? 

First, your student will be given a verbal and written assessment to determine their skill level, knowledge gaps, and academic goals. The 45-minute assessment methodically and thoroughly identifies what the student needs, and as a result, an individualized learning plan is created for the student. We help students K-12, whether they are remedial, on-grade, or looking for enrichment.

How often do the students come in?

We do not require that sessions be scheduled. Rather, parents and students can simply drop in whenever they like, up to ten times per month (60 minutes up through pre-algebra, 90 minutes algebra+). Pricing is based on a monthly membership.

Tell us about your learning environment. 

In a semi-private setting, we have no more than four students for each instructor. Instructors are trained in the Mathnasium Method. Instructors work one-on-one with students and then switch to a different student, as the students work on their learning plans. Students internalize the material, not just focus on getting the right answer. 

What separates you from other tutors? 

• Math-Only Focus: We are math specialists and get industry-leading results both in aptitude and attitude. 
• Incentivized Learning: Mathnasium provides a welcoming and positive environment that makes learning fun and encourages engagement. When students finish pages, they earn rewards, which can be cashed in for candy, toys, gift cards, etc
• No Homework: Mathnasium does not assign homework, but we do help students with their school-assigned homework and test prep as part of the session. 
• Plus, we also bring Mathnasium to the schools for after-school programs, in-school support, and PTA events such as Math Nights.

"Kids don’t hate math, they hate feeling confused. Remove the confusion from math, and you remove the kids’ dislike of it."

My student is not a “math person.” How will your program help? 

Every single child is capable of being a math person. That ability is not something you are born with, despite popular belief. Our program is fully focused on making the experience positive for all students, regardless of their initial feelings toward math. We do that by making the space positive and growth-minded, and by incentivizing the learning through rewards. 

That means that we do not mandate the kids to do the math just because we say so, but rather, encourage them to engage with math through a tangible rewards system where finished work results in things like candy, toys, and gift cards. We also ensure that they learn through internalizing the content, not through memorization. 

What made you want to go from instructor to owner/operator? 

I decided to open a Mathnasium before I became an instructor, which I did to strengthen my understanding of how Mathnasium operates. I am proud to say I spent about seven months as an apprentice at Mathnasium of Rosemont, the oldest and largest Mathnasium in the Philly area. Click here to read about the lessons learned from this renowned center. For me, it was all about opening a business that I would be passionate about, and given my background in engineering and software and my love of teaching, Mathnasium was the perfect fit. You can read an in-depth article about my background here. 

Why Mathnasium? What drew you to the franchise? 

I looked at over 500 franchises and seriously considered twelve of them. I wanted a franchise that was a good business model, but more importantly, would be something I could be proud of and passionate about. What I particularly love about Mathnasium is that it is the best in the world at creating and maintaining an amazing math curriculum. The founder who created the original curriculum is still actively involved. Between the robust education background of Mathnasium and my business and engineering background, it makes for the perfect partnership. 

Let’s hear your favorite math fact (or joke).

My favorite math fact is that the Fibonacci sequence–which is a pattern where the next number in a sequence is the sum of the two prior numbers (0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc)--shows up everywhere in nature. You can find it in describing how flower petals grow, how conch shells are shaped, how storm clouds rotate, how galaxies form, and even how the human ear is shaped. Math is the language used to describe the physical world, and the Fibonacci sequence is one of the most easily recognized examples of that!

What are some of your favorite places in Pike Creek?

I am particularly fond of the new Cafe Scalessa (a few doors down from us). Who doesn’t love some good Italian food? Otherwise, I’m really into trail running and hiking, so you can find me in one of the many different parks in the area.  

^{Photos courtesy of Mathnasium of Pike Creek}