How RSM Builds Mathematical Thinkers from the Start

Children are capable of learning and comprehending math concepts at a very young age. Children's brains are incredibly malleable, readily establishing connections and developing skills that will take much more time and effort later on. Young children are also naturally curious and uninhibited, and can easily grasp very complex ideas. RSM's math curriculum and methodology are built with this in mind. Our students learn to work with, and develop an appetite for, challenging mathematical concepts.

At RSM, elementary students are introduced to abstract mathematical concepts, with unknowns represented by familiar items. They are guided to solve problems using reasoning and logic. Students play with math concepts, exploring them from multiple angles, and discover that problems can have multiple paths to a solution. Algebra is introduced in early elementary school, specifically before they are taught algebraic rules. Without knowing the rules, children are able to solve algebraic problems at an intuitive level.

Building a Mathematical Mindset

One of our goals at RSM is to instill in our students a mathematical mindset. This means teaching our students:

• The ability to reason: how to derive new information from existing knowledge using logic.
• The ability to navigate the abstract: how to navigate abstract problems at the level of their intuition.
• Developing their intellectual character: we achieve this by presenting our students with challenging problems that they need to reason through, teaching them persistence and letting them discover that everything in mathematics can be figured out.

By regularly giving students problems that do not have an obvious answer, students learn to pause and think the question through. This teaches them how to ask the right questions and how to think through problems logically.

A mathematical mindset not only results in strong math skills, but also confident students. Students who are repeatedly shown that their reasoning, understanding, and persistence can carry them through extremely challenging problems develop both strong math skills and genuine confidence.

Developing a True Understanding of Math

At RSM, we aim to help our students achieve a true understanding of math. We do this by focusing on a select number of key topics each year and exploring them deeply. Instead of asking students to plug numbers into a given formula, students are instead asked to derive the formula. Going about the process of derivation gives students a stronger understanding of the formula and how it is used. This also ensures that students are able to remember the formula for longer than if they were simply asked to memorize it out of context.

This level of understanding allows students to remember math concepts years later and build new knowledge on top of what was previously learned. In short, we have developed our students' ability to reason through abstract concepts at the level of their intuition and logic, which not only develops a true understanding of mathematical concepts, but also develops in them a taste for challenging problems that they cannot immediately solve.

About RSM in Massachusetts

RSM's math program helps set students apart by instilling in them a mathematical mindset from a young age and providing them with a deep understanding of math concepts. RSM has 16 branches across Massachusetts, with a new Bedford location opening this September. Math classes for the 2026–2027 school year are now enrolling. Schedule an evaluation at mathschool.com to get started.

This story is sponsored by Russian School of Mathematics.