Vital Mathematics
Vital Mathematics is an after-school mathematics enrichment program for students in grades K–5 in Mount Pleasant, built on the internationally respected Singapore approach. Classes are designed to develop deep conceptual understanding, critical thinking, creative problem solving, metacognitive thinking, and mathematical confidence in a supportive, fun, and academically challenging environment.
Whether your child needs greater challenge, additional support, or simply loves learning math, Vital Mathematics provides a carefully sequenced learning experience where students are challenged at an appropriate level and supported in building lasting mathematical understanding and confidence.
Students benefit from:
Small, supportive grade-level cohorts
Carefully sequenced instruction grounded in conceptual understanding
Complex problem solving and critical thinking
Rich mathematical discussion and strategy sharing
Individualized feedback and guidance
Strategic thinking, reflection, and mathematical communication
A focus on mastery, confidence, and long-term mathematical growth
Rather than emphasizing memorization or speed alone, students learn to think deeply about mathematics, explain their reasoning clearly, and apply concepts flexibly across a wide variety of problems.
Placement is determined through collaboration with families to ensure each student receives the challenge and support needed for long-term mathematical growth.
What is Singapore Math?
The Singapore approach to mathematics emphasizes deep conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization of procedures. Students learn through a clear progression from concrete exploration using hands-on materials, to pictorial representation through visual models and drawings, and finally to abstract reasoning with numbers and symbols. This progression builds clarity, flexibility, and lasting mastery.
Rather than treating math as a set of isolated skills, the Singapore approach organizes instruction around big ideas and connected concepts. Students learn to see relationships between numbers, represent ideas in multiple ways, and apply strategies across different types of problems.
Core areas of focus include:
Number relationships and mathematical properties
Visual and symbolic representation
Logical reasoning and abstraction
Problem-solving strategies and application
Transferable number sense
Adopted by leading independent schools worldwide for its emphasis on depth and rigor, the Singapore approach provides a strong foundation for developing critical thinking and creative problem solving.
At its core, this approach develops confident problem solvers who understand not just how to solve problems, but why methods work. Students learn to think clearly, explain their reasoning, and approach mathematics with both precision and confidence.
Instruction at Vital Mathematics follows a consistent three-part framework designed to build conceptual understanding, problem-solving ability, and mathematical confidence, grounded in Singapore Math principles.
CLASS FORMAT
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LEARN
Lessons begin with focused instruction and rich mathematical discussion. This phase develops mathematical language and metacognition as students learn to articulate thinking, analyze ideas, ask questions, and explain reasoning with clarity.
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EXPLORE
Students deepen understanding through purposeful problem-solving, collaborative tasks, and hands-on activities that make abstract concepts visible and accessible. This phase builds critical thinking by encouraging students to make connections, test ideas, and develop flexible approaches.
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PRACTICE
Students work toward mastery through independent application, individualized feedback, and guided reflection. This phase strengthens creative problem-solving, reinforces accuracy and fluency, and builds confidence in applying concepts to increasingly complex challenges.
About the Founder
Michael Salomon is the founder of Vital Mathematics. He graduated from Pace University and began his professional career in accounting with organizations including WPP and the National Hockey League. This background shaped a deep appreciation for the importance of rigorous thinking, structured progression, and long-term skill development in mathematics education, ultimately leading to the creation of Vital Mathematics.
In 2012, he joined the New York City Teaching Fellows and spent more than a decade teaching in public schools in Brooklyn. His experience includes high-needs special education settings as well as academically diverse classrooms in communities such as Park Slope. Across these environments, he developed expertise in differentiating instruction, supporting rigorous academic growth, and fostering mathematical confidence in students at a wide range of skill levels.
Through both professional and classroom experience, he recognized the importance of collaborative learning, intellectual discourse, and metacognitive development — ensuring that students not only solve problems, but also understand their strategies, articulate their reasoning, and reflect on their thinking. These principles now inform the instructional approach at Vital Mathematics.
Vital Mathematics was founded to provide families with a structured, Singapore-based mathematics program that emphasizes depth, mastery, and thoughtful progression within intentionally small cohorts.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Begin the Placement Process to learn more about class fit, availability, and enrollment.