Hickory Flat
6768 Hickory Flat Hwy
, #102
Canton, GA 30115
Canton, GA 30115
Math proficiency extends far beyond equations and problem-solving skills. Parents are often surprised to discover how math impacts children’s perception of their own capabilities.
Students who struggle with math tend to develop what psychologists call "learned helplessness," withdrawing from academic challenges across all subjects.1 The child who freezes during a math test may eventually hesitate to raise their hand in English class or avoid leadership opportunities altogether.
The transformation happens in reverse, too. When children master mathematical concepts through genuine understanding, the ripple effects are profound. Anxiety gives way to curiosity. Avoidance becomes engagement. Most importantly, "I can't do this" evolves into "I haven't figured this out yet."
At Mathnasium of Hickory Flat, we've witnessed these shifts in hundreds of Canton-area students. The academic gains are measurable with better test scores and grades. But the deeper changes reveal something more significant about how mathematical confidence reshapes a child's entire approach to learning.
The data tells one story. The families tell another.
Something powerful happens when a child begins to understand math. Their posture changes. They speak with more certainty. They take more academic risks. And, in many cases, they begin to redefine how they see their own capabilities.
In a widely cited study published in Child Development, researchers Marsh and Martin (2011) explored the relationship between academic self-concept and achievement.2 They found that students’ belief in their own academic abilities both mirrors and shapes their performance.
As students begin to perceive themselves as capable in math, their outcomes begin to reflect that belief.
This idea is echoed in the work of Pajares and Miller (1994), who studied how students approach mathematical problem solving.3
Pajares and Miller found that a student’s confidence in their ability to solve problems, what researchers call “math self-efficacy”, was often a better predictor of success than their actual skill level. When students see themselves as competent problem solvers, they engage more fully and persist longer through challenges.
Confidence, however, doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
Unless addressed, past struggles with math can (and often do) create anxiety that interferes with learning.
Ashcraft and Krause (2007) demonstrated how math anxiety consumes a student’s working memory, leaving them overwhelmed before they even begin.4 It’s a reminder that effective instruction must create an environment that feels safe and responsive to the emotional experience of learning.
That’s why the right kind of math support makes a lasting difference. When students receive guidance in a caring and engaging group setting, they:
Recover trust in their own thinking.
Learn how to approach challenges with clarity and confidence.
Begin to carry that confidence into other areas of life.
Of course, better test scores and grades follow suit, but at Mathnasium of Hickory Flat, we’ve learned to value the intangible benefits of math mastery as much as the measurable ones.
When students see themselves as competent problem solvers, their curiosity and resilience grow.
We are a math-only learning center in Canton, GA. One of the best benefits of working with students in a small town like ours is that we get to be a part of their community. As their tutors, we have the first-row seats with the best view of their academic and personal growth.
We get to witness and celebrate them!
We also get to share their stories, so that they may inspire families that may be going through struggles with math or looking for a space where curiosity comes to thrive.
Meet Halle, Laela, and Tony – our students that have rewritten their math stories.
Halle entered Mathnasium in fifth grade while receiving special education services, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), for math. She dreaded being pulled from class and felt frustrated by a subject that never seemed to click.
During her initial assessment, Center Director Karen Connelly identified foundational gaps and built a personalized learning plan that helped Halle approach math with fresh eyes and a sense of agency. As her understanding grew, so did her enthusiasm, and her trajectory changed.
By high school, Halle no longer needed an IEP. She excelled in algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry, and statistics. Today, she’s thriving at Georgia Southern University.
“For a long time, I hated math and numbers, but by the time I finished my freshman year of high school, I loved math,” said Halle.
Her mother, Amber, added, “Before Mathnasium, we never thought college was in Halle's future. And look at her now.”
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Laela was seven years old when her family turned to Mathnasium. Her school had raised concerns about a potential learning disability. Her confidence was low, and math felt like a daily battle.
From day one, the team at Mathnasium approached Laela as capable, curious, and full of promise. Although her initial assessment results didn’t suggest she would excel in the program, what stood out was her determination and the warmth with which she was welcomed.
That support made all the difference. Laela began to thrive, mastering her multiplication facts and earning a school math award. She now talks about becoming an elementary school math teacher—an aspiration inspired by her own learning journey.
“Mathnasium didn’t just help her catch up,” her mom said. “It changed how she sees herself. She’s proud now, and that pride spills into everything she does.”
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Tony’s math story began in first grade, when he started feeling like he was falling behind. The worry and frustration began to build. After a skills assessment revealed he was about six months behind, his family turned to Mathnasium for support.
Over time, Tony gained the tools and clarity he needed to progress. As his understanding deepened, his confidence began to show. He mastered addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—skills that had once seemed out of reach.
By third grade, he was working nearly a year ahead in math. His classmates even nominated him for the “Marvelous Mathematician” award.
“Before, Tony focused on what he got wrong,” said his mom, Kacy. “Now, he lights up when he sees what he can do. The shift in confidence has been incredible.”
At Mathnasium of Hickory Flat, students transform how they think and feel about math, as well as their own capabilities
Each student arrives at Mathnasium with a different story. Some are trying to catch up. Others are keeping pace but want to feel more confident. A few are ready for new challenges that go beyond the classroom.
Wherever they begin, our approach remains consistent: we meet students where they are and help them grow from there.
At the heart of our work is the Mathnasium Method™—a proprietary teaching approach that combines personalized learning plans, interactive techniques, and face-to-face instruction in a supportive group setting.
More than homework help or test prep, our goal is to help students truly understand how math works, so they can apply what they learn with clarity and confidence.
Before instruction begins, our students complete an assessment designed to help us understand their skill level, learning style, and needs. From this, we build a personalized plan that allows students to move forward level by level, mastering each concept along the way.
Throughout the process, instructors use a mix of verbal, visual, tactile, and written strategies tailored to how each student learns best. We also maintain consistent, caring guidance that ensures students interact with math at their own pace, making meaningful progress in a low-pressure environment.
Our approach delivers measurable results:
94% of parents report improvement in their child’s math skills and understanding.
90% of students see better grades in school.
93% of parents notice a more positive attitude toward math.
What makes our approach sustainable is the structure we provide. We teach students how to think mathematically; how to recognize patterns, break down problems, and build reasoning skills that extend far beyond math class.
In doing so, we help students build academic fluency and a mindset that says, “I can figure this out.”
Ready to transform how your student thinks and feels about math?
Families in Canton, GA, can visit our center at 6768 Hickory Flat Hwy, #102, Canton, GA 30115, or schedule a free assessment:
Schedule a Free Assessment at Mathnasium of Hickory Flat
Gentile, J. R., & Monaco, N. M. (1986). Learned helplessness in mathematics: What educators should know. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 5(2), 159-178.
Marsh, H. W., & Martin, A. J. (2011). Academic self-concept and academic achievement: Relations and causal ordering. Child Development.
Pajares, F., & Miller, M. D. (1994). The role of self-efficacy and self-concept beliefs in mathematical problem solving: A path analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology.
Ashcraft, M. H., & Krause, J. A. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.
Mathnasium of Hickory Flat is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in Canton, GA. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
Our specially trained tutors deliver face-to-face instruction in a supportive and fun small-group environment, working with students to develop a deep understanding of math, build confidence, and improve academic performance.
Schedule Free Assessment
(678) 880-7592
(470) 877-4384
