• SAI is a half-day, week-long summer math enrichment program for students entering grades 3-8 for fall 2025 (NOT just gifted & talented), where we use Algebra to train kids learn how to be successful in math while having fun.
• SAI’s objective is to make math sensible and enjoyable, by using hands-on activities, games, music, and substantive Algebra to turn kids on to Math. Since SAI's first session in 1995, some 4,000 stsudent have completed our program - from as far away as Seattle, Kansas City, Amarillo, Houston, New Hampshire, and even Taiwan and Alaska (!). The Holland-Zeeland area of west Michigan is the ONLY site in the U.S. where SAI is held.
• Because of how we teach, SAI is like a rising tide that lifts all boats - kids who love and/or excel at math benefit from this exposure to Algebra, and kids who struggle with Arithmetic can enrich their understanding of math as well. The main prerequisites for this course are the ability to count to 9 and the ability to make a rectangles out of squares and smaller rectangles.
• SAI uses Algebra for two purposes: to look FORWARD to several foundational concepts and skills of a typical Algebra-1 course, and to look BACK in connecting Algebra with the Arithmetic that students already know (especially basic facts and place value).
• Parent and student comments about SAI:
- "Great experience for my son - he loved it."
- "My daughter raved about this program at a time in her life when she doesn't comment much. Keep up the good work!"
- "My child loved the Algebra and has shown so much improvement in place value and fractions as well - thanks so much."
- “I took SAI just before 8th grade. So in my Algebra-1 class at school that fall, I already understood variables and powers and the difference between X and X-squared, while my classmates were still trying to figure out what X was.”
- "My daughter came to SAI on Monday saying 'I hate math - I hate math." I don't know what you did, but what occurred was exactly what I hoped would happen: on Tuesday morning, she could hardly wait to get back again. Thank you."