LOUIE TRAUB/VIEWKathy Butler leads Matthew Emery, 7, left, and Will Bailey, 7, in a lesson at the Math Monkey learning center in Henderson, July 31. The center practices Vedic math, which teaches students to do calculations in their heads.
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After a long day of school, kids want to play games and have a little fun.
Maia and Carl Emery don't think the learning has to stop when entertainment starts. They recently opened Math Monkey, a knowledge center that teaches Vedic math through a game-based learning program, in Henderson and plan to open two new locations in Summerlin and Aliante.
Vedic comes from Indian math principles that allow users to perform calculations mentally. The Math Monkey curriculum blends Western culture into Indian math.
Emery said the classes are so much fun that kids "are happy to be here. They're happy to be doing math."
Kathy Butler, a Math Monkey instructor and teacher with the Clark County School District for more than 10 years, said the center gets the kids excited to do math.
"(The program) gives them a little more enthusiasm for participation," she said. "And it gives them a lot of added practice."
Each class begins with a warm up to get the kids excited, followed by a game that builds on what was learned the week before.
Emery, who taught math and science at Silverado High School, said repetition is very important to really understand math.
Children from 5 to 14 years old can participate in a one-hour class once a week. Students are separated by academic ability and work their way through the program's five levels. A complete session lasts 12 weeks, but students can sign up at any time during a session.
Lou Milano, who has been a substitute teacher for four years with CCSD, said the Math Monkey curriculum strengthens the mental math ability and simplifies it.
"This is mental math. We don't want kids relying on calculators or computers," Emery said.
Vedic math will not interfere with a student's school work, Emery said, adding "This is just another way to do it."
Math Monkey was designed for students who excel, but it has been found to work for kids who struggle, as well.
The knowledge center in Henderson, located at 10740 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 115, has three teachers and 31 students enrolled.
Emery said she thinks American children need to spend more time learning math because of the global and competitive market.
"People are coming from other countries and they are working in the top professions," Emery said. "Our children are not prepared. They need something."
Emery said she also plans to introduce Vedic math to schools through fun math nights that would involve parents.
Math Monkey is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
For more information, visit www.mathmonkey.com/henderson.
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