• Roots for Success

    Mathematics Enrichment and Tutoring

    for Elementary Students

  • Welcome to Roots for Success, where your child's success in math is my top priority. I specialize in providing exceptional math enrichment and tutoring services for students in Grades 1-6. My mission is to empower your child to excel in math by making it meaningful, relevant, and FUN! Through personalized one-on-one sessions that are tailored to each student's unique learning style and interests, your child will experience a customized learning journey that builds confidence and fosters a love for math. Whether your child requires remedial support or seeks to explore more advanced topics, I am here to help them achieve their goals and reach their full potential. My expertise is exclusively tailored to the unique needs and challenges that younger students face when learning math. As an experienced elementary math tutor, I have a deep understanding of the curriculum, teaching methods, and common issues that elementary students encounter when learning math.

     

    I understand that many students struggle with math, which can result in feelings of anxiety and frustration. It's not uncommon for math anxiety to show up in students as early as kindergarten or first grade, when they are first introduced to basic math concepts. That's why personalized one-on-one sessions in the nurturing and supportive environment of "the math lab" can make all the difference. By providing your child with the individual attention they need, I can help them master math concepts at their own pace, build confidence in problem-solving, and overcome any math anxiety they may be experiencing.

     

    For students who are passionate about math and wish to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts, my one-on-one sessions provide an opportunity to go beyond the classroom curriculum. With my math enrichment program, your child will have access to a range of fun and interactive activities, games, and puzzles that encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

     

    Let Roots for Success help your child unlock their full potential and achieve success in math! Together, we will embark on a personalized learning journey that is tailored to your child's unique needs and interests, making math an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Contact me today to schedule a free consultation and see the difference personalized attention and expertise can make!

  • Testimonials

    Here is what parents are saying ...

    (parent names omitted to protect identity of students)

    Rapport and connection online is strong!

    My 9 yo daughter loves working with Sherry and Roots for Success. She started virtual weekly tutoring sessions about 2 years ago, and has made continual progress in that time. It’s great to see her gain skills and confidence, and actually enjoy doing academic work. Her teachers have also noted her increased level of engagement and enthusiasm during math lessons at school.

    We live in the western part of the state so all of the sessions have been virtual. The Zoom format, and using Bitpaper has been easy and effective. The rapport and connection Sherry has built with my daughter during the virtual sessions is as strong as if sessions were in-person, and is as much a testament to Sherry’s skill as an educator as to modern technology. We plan to continue working with Sherry, and are so grateful the virtual format makes it possible.

    Favorite teacher of all time, online and in real life!

    Both my children, aged 9 and 6, learned math with Ms. Sherry online during their homeschool year. We worked with several online tutors and Ms. Sherry quickly became their favorite teacher of all time, online and IRL. Her genuine love for teaching and children comes through in every lesson and even across the digital platforms. My children eagerly looked forward to class and excitedly shared their lessons with me. They both learned a lot and I’m confident that they will be ready for in-person school in the Fall with regard to covering the necessary curriculum and beyond. Thank you so much!

    Embracing challenges with new found confidence!

    Sherry is a fantastic tutor and we are lucky to have found her! She tutored our daughter throughout 5th grade, and she has returned for 6th grade tutoring. Our daughter went from struggling with her material and lacking confidence, to embracing its challenges and excelling in this subject area. The benefits to our daughter are evidenced by both her dramatically improved test scores and more importantly, her new found confidence! She now approaches math as a puzzle to be solved rather than a subject to shy away from. Our third grader has also started with Sherry this year. He looks forward to and loves his tutoring sessions. Sherry is an exceptional instructor. She pares her lessons with hands-on activities and real world applications that the kids love. Both the kids report that she makes math fun!

    Thriving with a totally different outlook on math!

    We are so lucky to have found Sherry to tutor both of our children in math. Before going to Sherry our kids thought math was “too hard” and intimidated by it. Sherry has definitely changed their perspective on math and taught them that math can be fun by engaging them in math games, puzzles, activities, etc. Now they are both thriving and have a totally different outlook on math. I would highly recommend Sherry to anyone who is looking for a reliable, nurturing and knowledgeable math tutor. Thanks for boosting our kids confidence in math!

    Kind, fun, and amazingly well-qualified!

    We moved a couple times, which left some holes in our son's math skills. As a result, he felt he simply "wasn't good at math." Really, he just needed those holes filled in, and a better all around number sense. We were thrilled to find Sherry to help get him back on track. Not only is she amazingly well-qualified; she is kind and fun, which made going to tutoring no big deal. His skills and confidence improved to the point he qualified for gifted math! We couldn't be more grateful.

    The positive rewards of grasping new concepts!

    Our son has become passionate about learning math with Ms. Sherry and looks forward to meeting with her each week. He has been able to gain confidence in understanding math, practical applications, and the positive rewards of grasping new concepts. Sherry is wonderful to work with as a teacher and professional​!

    Neighborhood gem!

    Ms. Sherry is a neighborhood gem. She makes math fun and has completely changed my son's attitude towards math. When he began working with her in 3rd grade, he struggled with math and thought it was "dumb and boring." In the four years he has worked with her he has grown to love math and thrive in math class. The switch to virtual tutoring during the pandemic was tough, but Sherry still found ways to make it engaging. When f2f sessions were possible again, my son was excited to get back to her math lab. He is now old enough to ride his bike to her house which makes the whole experience an adventure and even more fun!

  • Math Anxiety

    What is it? How does it impact students? How can tutoring help?

    What is it?

    Math anxiety is a widespread problem for students and adults alike. Even students who are good at math often experience math anxiety, including feelings of tension, apprehension or worry. Math-anxious students frequently endure significant physiological, emotional, and cognitive reactions in situations where they have to manipulate numbers, solve mathematical problems, or take a math test. Math anxiety can begin as early as elementary school with the foundations being laid even before formal schooling.

    How does it impact students?

    Signs of math anxiety vary but might include rushing through problems, acting out in class, lack of engagement or motivation, proclamations that the student hates math, or homework procrastination. Math anxiety that goes unchecked in the early years can persist throughout students' academic lives. Math-anxious students tend to take fewer advanced math classes and see themselves as less able in not only math, but in science, technology, and engineering as well. Confidence in doing math and mathematical competence can therefore impact students' vocational choices.

    How can one-on-one tutoring help?

    While math anxiety is very real, it is also fixable. One-on-one tutoring can help! At Roots for Success, a big focal area of my work is building students' confidence. My approach centers on meeting students where they are and taking the time to listen to their ideas and build on their intuitions. During our sessions, I provide students with plenty of opportunities to be successful. I encourage students to think flexibly about numbers and explore alternative approaches to problems. It is more important that they truly understand the concepts we are working on than it is for us to cover a set number of topics in a defined period of time. The more comfortable they become approaching problems in different ways, the deeper and broader their knowledge extends and the more confident they become in doing mathematics.

     

    Helping students believe in their ability to successfully perform in math boosts motivation in learning and lowers math anxiety. As students' confidence grows in the intimate setting of one-on-one tutoring, it begins to move with them into the classroom. Students engage more in math class. They are more willing to raise their hand and ask questions, more willing to consider alternative ways of approaching problems. Greater engagement leads to greater confidence and increased motivation. Students with higher motivation in a subject area invest more time and effort in learning. And so it becomes an upward cycle of growth.

  • In-Person Tutoring

    At Roots for Success, in-person tutoring sessions take place in an inviting space we call "the Math Lab." Here, students are immersed in a dynamic learning environment that encourages hands-on exploration of mathematical concepts. Whether we are using cardboard boxes and small foam cubes to explore volume, using an open door to investigate types of angles, ordering fraction cards on a clothesline, or using matchbox cars to engage in a statistical investigation process, we have fun!

     

    The Math Lab is a place where students are encouraged to experiment with different approaches to problem-solving, using a wide range of physical objects and mathematical tools. With rich problem contexts and tasks that promote deep thinking and verbalization of ideas, students are challenged to ponder important mathematical concepts in depth. Our collection of math puzzles foster logical thinking, persistence and creativity, while math games - a definite favorite - encourage strategic mathematical thinking and promote computational fluency.

  • Virtual Tutoring

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on student learning, particularly in mathematics. Recent reports indicate that, on average, students are five months behind in mathematics. Quality remote tutoring is a great option for getting students back on track. Online tutoring through Roots for Success offers students a consistent one-on-one personal relationship. The same care that goes into understanding students' learning needs and developing bespoke face-to-face tutoring sessions goes into creating online sessions. Technology provides a powerful platform for instruction and the digital tools at our fingertips are meaningful and motivating. Dynamic tools, such as Geogebra or Desmos, encourage students to play with mathematical ideas in interactive ways. More interactive play with mathematical ideas leads to deeper understanding. Virtual tutoring also has the added benefits of convenience and comfort. It is one less "shuttle stop" for busy parents and students can learn in the comfort of their own homes. Adding online tutoring to supplement in-school learning can give students the skills and experience they need to be successful. Virtual tutoring works best for students in Grades 4-6.

     

     

  • Contact

    Ready to get started? Have more questions? Please contact me.

    SUBMIT

  • Sherry Booth Freeman, Ph.D.

    Roots for Success grew out of my passion for actively engaging elementary students in learning mathematics. I enjoy working with students to deepen their understanding of math and to make it meaningful, relevant, and fun. With over 35 years of experience in the field of education - as a teacher, researcher, curriculum developer, and instructional designer - I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to each session. Each student is unique and comes to me with their own learning style. I find great joy in figuring out how content can be creatively developed and delivered to support their range of learning styles.

     

    I hold a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from North Carolina State University, a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University, and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Sweet Briar College. My passion for education has led me to a range of innovative work in the field. In addition to being a middle school math teacher, I have taught online classes for NCSU, developed and researched MOOC-Eds (Massive Open Education Courses for Educators), created and led online learning communities, developed online math curricula and interactive tools for elementary students, and designed professional development courses for elementary math teachers in both online and in-person formats. My extensive collaboration with a variety of educational organizations, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, Education Development Center, Harvard University, Boston Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, North Carolina Public Schools, North Carolina Museum of Natural Science, The Jason Foundation for Education, McGraw-Hill, and Houghton-Mifflin, has allowed me to develop indepth knowledge and experience of teaching and learning that I bring to each session with my students.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Where do tutoring sessions take place?

    In-person sessions are in Cary, NC.

    Virtual sessions are conducted via Zoom.

    How do I book sessions?

    Contact me directly to discuss your child's needs and set up a tutoring schedule. I recommend 1-2 sessions/week. Continuity in sessions enables me to develop a relationship with your child and craft sessions that are specifically tailored to their needs.

    What is the cost of tutoring sessions?

    $60/45-minute virtual session

    $70/60-minute face-to-face session

    How do I pay for sessions?

    I accept payment through Zelle, Venmo, and PayPal.

    What is your cancellation policy?

    You may re-schedule any booked session up to 24 hours before its start time. No-shows or sessions not rescheduled 24 hours in advance must be paid for in full. Exemptions may be granted for special circumstances.

    Do you provide tutoring materials and/or a curriculum?

    I provide all of the materials your child needs for tutoring sessions. While the skills and concepts covered during tutoring sessions follow a coherent order and align with the Common Core Math Standards, we mix it up with stories, puzzles, rich tasks, games, apps, and more. Math stories draw students in and bring math concepts to life. Math puzzles foster logical thinking, persistence, and creativity. Rich problem contexts and tasks invite students to ponder important mathematical ideas in depth and verbalize their thinking. Math games (a favorite) encourage strategic mathematical thinking and support the development of computational fluency. And math apps (digital math tools) make math more interactive. In short, we use a lot of different ingredients to make math meaningful and FUN! Much of the content I use are materials I developed through the above mentioned projects. Other materials are freely available online. Examples of online content and tools can be found at the following sites: The Math Learning Center, Geogebra, Desmos, Illustrative Mathematics, and Open-Up Resources.

    What are tutoring sessions like?

    Each tutoring session is customized to meet your child’s needs -- bespoke tutoring! Prior to the session I develop a series of activities for your child that will actively engage them in mathematics appropriate for their grade level. I frequently use math games, puzzles, stories, rich tasks, and math apps to help students develop confidence and skill in a fun and engaging way. If you would like for me to go over a specific homework assignment with your child, I ask that you send it to me the night before the session. A pdf or screen shot of the lesson works best but you can also just snap a picture of the lesson with your phone and text it to me.

    What technology do I need for online tutoring?

    For online tutoring sessions, your child will need a device (computer or tablet) and a good internet connection. In addition to Zoom, we will be using a shared online white board. Most students find it easiest to use the combination of Zoom and the online white board when they have a computer with a mouse and/or stylus and a large screen monitor with a camera (so they can see me and I can see them!).

    How can I best prepare my child for tutoring sessions?

    Make sure your child has had a snack and an opportunity to use the bathroom before tutoring. I ask that students do not bring a snack to face-to-face sessions or online sessions.

    For virtual sessions, make sure your child is comfortable with Zoom. They will need to know how to share their screen, open a new browser window, link to an external site, and be able to switch back to camera mode (so we can see each other).

    Math anxiety is a widespread problem for people of all ages. Even if you (as a parent) feel a little anxious about math, make sure you are conveying a positive attitude about math to your child. Positive math input at home is an important predictor of children's mathematical success.

  • The Math Lab

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