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    Roots for Success

    Math Tutoring for Grades 1–6 | Personalized Support & Enrichment

  • Welcome to Roots for Success—where elementary math becomes meaningful, engaging, and fun! I provide expert one-on-one tutoring and enrichment for students in Grades 1–6, tailored to each child’s unique learning style and pace.

    Whether your child needs help building foundational skills, overcoming math anxiety, or exploring advanced concepts, I create a supportive, personalized experience that boosts confidence and nurtures a love of math. Sessions take place in a calm, encouraging environment known as "the math lab," where students can thrive.

    As an experienced elementary math tutor, I understand the curriculum, developmental needs, and common challenges younger learners face. My sessions use hands-on activities, games, and problem-solving strategies to build skills and spark curiosity.

    Let’s unlock your child’s full potential—one session at a time.


    Contact me today for a free consultation and discover the difference personalized math support can make!

  • Contact

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

  • 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!

  • Overcoming Math Anxiety with Confidence and Support

    What is math anxiety?

    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 real, it’s also fixable. At Roots for Success, I focus on building confidence through one-on-one tutoring that meets each student where they are. I listen carefully, build on their natural thinking, and offer plenty of opportunities for success. Instead of rushing through topics, I emphasize true understanding. I encourage students to think flexibly about numbers and explore different ways to approach problems. As confidence grows during tutoring, it follows them into the classroom. Students become more willing to ask questions, try new strategies, and engage in math class—creating a positive cycle of motivation and growth.

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    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.

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    Online Tutoring

    Online tutoring offers a flexible, effective way to support students in math—whether they need to catch up, build confidence, or explore more advanced concepts. At Roots for Success, virtual sessions provide the same personalized, one-on-one support as in-person tutoring. I tailor each lesson to your child’s learning style, using dynamic tools like Desmos and GeoGebra to make math interactive, visual, and fun.

    Learning from home offers comfort and convenience for busy families—no extra driving required. Students feel at ease in their own space, which helps them stay focused and engaged. Online sessions also offer flexibility when your family is traveling - learning can continue as long as your child has a quiet space and reliable internet access.

    *Contact me to discuss whether online tutoring is right for your child. Online tutoring is typically most effective for students in Grades 4-6.

  • Contact

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

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    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?

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

    $60/45-minute online 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 online 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.